Eredivisie champions Ajax and KNVB Cup holders PSV Eindhoven are set to go head-to-head in the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup) on Saturday night.
Ajax and PSV dominated Dutch football last season, with first-place Ajax finishing two points ahead of second-place PSV in the Eredivisie table.
Well-timed #OnThisDay 😉 pic.twitter.com/Cq3I87iuSs— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 27, 2022
Well-timed #OnThisDay 😉 pic.twitter.com/Cq3I87iuSs
However, PSV gained their revenge in the KNVB Cup – claiming a 2-1 victory over Ajax in the final. Who will come out on top this time around?
Ajax lost just three of their 34 league games last season, picking up 26 wins and five draws along the way.
Not only did the champions finish the campaign as the top scorers (98), but they also achieved the best defensive record (19). As a result, they ended up with a monster goal difference of +79.
Ajax have played five pre-season friendlies across June and July, registering three wins, one draw and one loss in the process.
Following Erik ten Hag’s departure to Manchester United, Alfred Schreuder will lead the team into the new campaign. Can he pick up where ten Hag left off?
As for PSV, they also won 26 of their 34 Eredivisie games last term. However, they suffered two defeats more than Ajax.
The Eindhoven outfit have played six pre-season friendlies, recording three wins, one draw and two loses. Last time out, they claimed a 2-1 victory over La Liga side Real Betis.
It is worth remembering that PSV thrashed Ajax 4-0 in last year’s Dutch Super Cup, securing their third Johan Cruyff Shield in seven years.
PSV are the most successful team in the history of the Dutch Super Cup. They have won 12 titles – three more than Ajax – and have also lost on seven occasions.
Head-to-head: As we know, PSV thrashed Ajax 4-0 in the 2021 Johan Cruyff Shield. The Eindhoven outfit also beat Ajax 2-1 in their previous meeting.
Although Ajax have won six of the past 11 meetings between the teams, PSV’s recent record in this fixture is solid.
Team news: Ajax look set to the start the season without the injured duo of Kik Pierie (knock) and Maarten Stekelenburg (foot).
PSV currently have four players sidelined through injury – Olivier Boscagli (knee), Mauro Junior (knock), Carlos Vinicius (hamstring) and Andre Ramalho (unknown).
After crushing Ajax 4-0 in the 2021 Dutch Super Cup, PSV pushed the Amsterdam outfit all the way in the Eredivisie title race.
With that in mind, Forebet predicts that PSV will defend the Johan Cruyff Shield – scoring over 1.5 goals on their way to victory.