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2019 Dutch Super Cup – Ajax vs PSV Eindhoven Preview



This weekend we have a cracking tie between the top 2 Dutch sides as the defending league and cup champions Ajax take on the 2nd placed last season PSV side for the Dutch Super Cup!


After a 5 year drought, Ajax are coming off a season where they finally managed to snatch up the league title beating PSV by 3 points in the table while also adding a KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) title and were just seconds away from reaching the Champions League Final. Ajax will be hoping to carry the momentum from last year into this year as they seek to win their first Dutch Super Cup since 2013.


However having sold a couple of very huge players in de Ligt and de Jong many will be wondering how much that might potentially hurt Ajax. Ajax did bring in a few decent players though in Quincy Promes who could potentially start in the attack given that Ziyech hasn’t played in pre-season yet and a couple of young Centre Backs in Edson Alvarez, Lisandro Martinez and Kik Pierre and will be hoping that either one of them can fill the boots of de Ligt.


As for PSV, they will be looking for a bounce back season themselves. Having gone trophy-less last season which is unusual for them, surrendering a 5 point lead at the top to Ajax in the title race and being knocked out of every other competition, this club will be hoping to return to the top of Dutch football again.


PSV themselves have lost a couple of very important players too losing their top scorer Luuk de Jong to Sevilla and left back Angelino to Manchester City they could also potentially fall off a little bit this year. PSV did make a couple of decent signings however in Winger Bruma and Centre Back Baumgartl and left back Boscagli who they hope will fill Angelino’s boots, but they haven’t been able to find a replacement for their top scorer which could end up costing them this season if no one steps up.


This will be Ajax’s first official game of the season having only player pre-season friendlies in which they looked relatively decent. They won 5 of their 7 games scoring 23 goals including beating the likes of Watford and Basaksehir (2nd placed Turkish team). They did lose their last game to Panathinaikos but it was after they played OFI Crete on the exact same day. Ajax haven’t been particularly good defensively though conceding at least one goal in all of their 7 pre-season games.


As for PSV, they are currently in the middle of their Champions League qualifying tie with Basel. PSV have prior played 4 friendlies only winning once against Aris 3-0 while suffering defeats to Nice, Wolfsburg and only managing a draw against Swiss side Sion. PSV did defeat Basel 3-2 at home after completing a miraculous comeback being down 1-2 in the 89th minute in the 1st leg. Defensively PSV have been very shaky as in these 5 games all together they conceded 2+ goals 3 times. Be wary of PSV potentially looking ahead more so than this game considering they have a tough job on their hands away at Basel during the midweek.


The player to watch for Ajax is clearly Dusan Tadic. He had a ridiculous season last year totalling 41 goal contributions in Eredivisie alone scoring 28 goals and delivering 13 assists. He completely tore the league, in fact every competition that Ajax were in apart and many will be expecting him to continue to deliver at such level in the Ajax camp. Can always expect a goal contribution from Tadic nowadays.


Hirving Lozano is the man to watch for PSV. The Mexican winger is a very dangerous player, arguably PSV’s best creator and goal scorer right now. He’s coming off a back to back 17 goal seasons in the league while delivering 8 assists last season. Lozano will be expected to cause some serious problems for Ajax here.


Looking at recent H2H, Ajax and PSV matches have been relatively one sided. All of last 4 H2H meetings ended with a 2 goal win by either side, 3 of those matches ended by a 3-0 score line either way. Each of last 4 matches between the sides have had over 2.5 goals totalling 13 goals so this is a high scoring fixture to no ones surprise considering how talented both teams have always been up front.


The home team has won each of the last 5 meetings and considering the Super Cup is played in Ajax’s home, that could turn out to be a major factor in who wins. Ajax have beaten PSV 3-0 and 3-1 in their last 2 home games against them, however the last time that they met in a Super Cup PSV did beat Ajax 4-2, but that was 7 years ago now.


Dutch Super Cups have normally been high scoring, however in past seasons this has been a fixture that hasn’t provided the most excitement as 4 of the last 5 fixtures have seen Under 2.5 goals only seeing a total of 7 goals. The last 2 Super Cups have gone to Penalties with most recently Feyenoord beating PSV after a 0-0 draw.


Ajax are tipped bookies favourites to win at 1.82 and to lift the trophy at 1.40 while PSV to win in 90 mins is 3.70 and to lift the trophy is 2.75 with Draw offered at 4.10. With Ajax being the champions, playing at home and PSV having a big game upcoming midweek, it would definitely be a little surprising if Ajax don’t come away with another trophy here. The odds are based on Unibet.


Team News


Ajax: Ajax are of course without their 2 star men from last season de Ligt and de Jong who left for Juventus and Barcelona. Furthermore, 1st choice keeper Onana, Mazraoui and Ziyech are also all out leaving Ajax a weakened squad coming into this game.


PSV Eindhoven: PSV are also without some star men from last season in Angelino and Luuk de Jong as they’re sold, but otherwise they aren’t missing anyone key coming into this match. Should expect to see new signings Bruma and Boscagli making their official debuts.


 


KICK OFF – 27th July 2019 – 5pm UK Time

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