Ajax and AZ shared the points in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Saturday evening. Brian Brobbey left before the break to break the spell for the team from Amsterdam in a detached position, while Mayckel Lahdo was unlucky on behalf of AZ in the second half with a shot on the post: 0-0. The draw means that Ajax can almost forget about Champions League football. The gap with number two PSV is five points with three matches to go. AZ is still two points behind.
At Ajax, Heitinga chose to immediately place Mohammed Kudus, who had returned from injury, in the starting line-up. The Ghanaian replaced Steven Berghuis, who was missing due to an injury. Devyne Rensch was preferred as right back to Jorge Sánchez. Just like the Amsterdammers, the Alkmaarders also received excellent news from the infirmary, as Jens Odgaard and Vangelis Pavlidis were fully available again. AZ performed in special black shirts, which will be auctioned afterwards for the benefit of the Alkmaar Zaanstreek Foundation.
Both teams presented the visitors with an extremely entertaining opening phase. Ajax showed itself through Brobbey (header) and Kudus (shot just wide), while Odgaard came across the fists of Gerónimo Rulli on the other side. The biggest possibility, however, was for Tijjani Reijnders. The midfielder was unable to pass the Argentinian goalkeeper one-on-one, after which Myron van Brederode needed too much time in the rebound.
Ajax played at a remarkably slow pace, but almost took the lead after Bergwijn hit the post hard. In the end, Brobbey left ten minutes before the break to break the spell. The striker received the ball on a silver platter from Davy Klaassen, but he shot straight at Mathew Ryan from about eight meters. Kudus hit the bar in the rebound.
The second act was a lot less open. AZ had to do without Odgaard, who dropped out in the fortieth minute. His replacement Lahdo was the closest to an Alkmaar lead. The wing attacker was able to take a free swing, but saw his attempt for a goal go past Rulli’s goal via the inside of the post. Ajax barely got to Ryan’s goal. The only danger came in the final phase from Bergwijn, who saw his deflected shot go just wide.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feyenoord | 30 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 45 | 73 |
| 2 | PSV | 31 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 68 |
| 3 | Ajax | 31 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 47 | 63 |
| 4 | AZ | 31 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 61 |
| 5 | Sparta Rotterdam | 31 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 53 |
| 6 | FC Twente | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 52 |
| 7 | FC Utrecht | 31 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 48 |
| 8 | RKC Waalwijk | 31 | 11 | 8 | 12 | -3 | 41 |
| 9 | SC Heerenveen | 31 | 11 | 8 | 12 | -8 | 41 |
| 10 | NEC | 31 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 38 |
| 11 | Go Ahead Eagles | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | -8 | 36 |
| 12 | Fortuna Sittard | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | -21 | 32 |
| 13 | Vitesse | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | -12 | 31 |
| 14 | FC Volendam | 31 | 8 | 6 | 17 | -28 | 30 |
| 15 | FC Emmen | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | -22 | 28 |
| 16 | Excelsior | 30 | 8 | 4 | 18 | -39 | 28 |
| 17 | Fc Groningen | 30 | 4 | 5 | 21 | -32 | 17 |
| 18 | SC Cambuur | 31 | 4 | 4 | 23 | -42 | 16 |