With just four fixtures left to play in the Eredivisie, the race for the 2016/17 league title is set to go right down to the wire. As things stand, Feyenoord Rotterdam, who have led the table since the very first week, will be crowned champions for the first time since 1999, but there is still time to lose their place at the top.
Their biggest threat is Ajax, who have occupied second place since October. They have been waiting patiently for their chance to pounce, but so far Feyenoord have maintained their form. Yet, after handing the club their third defeat of the campaign earlier this month, Peter Bosz’s side were able to move within a point of Feyenoord last weekend.
Yet, Ajax will need Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side to drop at least two points over the course of their remaining fixtures in order to leapfrog them into first. While their current record suggests that they are unlikely to suffer another defeat this season, Feyenoord will have to work incredibly hard over the next month to ensure there are no slip-ups.
Their remaining fixtures are somewhat straightforward, with games against Vitesse Arnhem, Excelsior Rotterdam and Heracles Almelo taking up the final few weeks. They will be confident of taking nine points from nine against those sides. However, their toughest test will undoubtedly come this weekend.
Feyenoord will host FC Utrecht at their De Kuip home on Sunday, with kick-off set for 1:30pm. Utrecht currently occupy fourth spot in the Eredivisie, and with the automatic Europa League qualifying spot is out of reach and a place in the Europa League play-off seemingly secured, their is little left for their to chase this season. Yet, they could end up deciding who walks away with the Eredivisie trophy come May.
A victory for Utrecht this weekend would allow Ajax to overtake Feyenoord. With Ajax set to play a SCHeerenveen side that are currently in free fall, having lost seven of their last 10 matches, they will be confident of securing three points.
That would require Feyenoord to suffer defeat at home for the first time this season, which seems somewhat unlikely. Although, a draw is certainly achievable. Utrecht managed to contain the title-chasers last time they met and, having recorded four consecutive wins over the last month, scoring 11 goals in the process, they will be confident that they can match the division’s best goalscoring side.
Football is an unpredictable game and there are likely to be plenty of twists and turnsover the final few weeks. Ajax will know all too well that they have to keep fighting until the last blast of the whistle, having allowed the title to escape them on the final day of last season.
Yet, given Feyenoord impeccable form this season, it’s hard to see them providing too many opportunities to be overtaken. Their visit from Utrecht appears to be their final test and, if they can come through that game with three more points on the board, the trophy will likely be theirs.