Eredivisie Preview: Zwolle look to keep top spot, Ajax face PSV

Early Eredivisie leaders PEC Zwolle will hope to bounce back from defeat to reigning champions Ajax when they face Vitesse on Sunday.

Manager Ron Jans, who took over at the start of the season, has overseen an unexpectedly impressive start, with his side’s loss in Amsterdam marking their first defeat of the campaign.

But with three teams ready to pounce should they slip up again, PEC face a daunting trip to the GelreDome, where Vitesse have lost just one of their last 14 league games.

Winger Christian Atsu, currently on a season-long loan from Chelsea, could be in line for his debut for the hosts should the work permit issues which have held him back be resolved.

Heerenveen, PSV and Ajax and are all poised to take top spot in the event of a PEC defeat, with the latter pair set to go head to head at the Philips Stadion in the weekend’s headline fixture.

Marco van Basten’s men, meanwhile, travel to take on Roda JC.

Elsewhere, two teams desperate to change their fortunes – ADO Den Haag and NAC Breda – will both be gunning for their second wins of the season when they host NEC and AZ Alkmaar respectively.

Den Haag boast one of the league’s in-form players among their ranks in 22-year-old midfielder Victor Palsson, with the youngster having grabbed two goals in six starts after failing to score at all in the previous campaign.

Feyenoord, who take on Utrecht at home, also have one-to-watch in Graziano Pelle, who is gunning for his seventh goal in as many games at the weekend.

Groningen and Go Ahead Eagles occupy ninth and 10th spot respectively after six games, and will hope to build on solid starts when they take on RKC Waalwijk and Cambuur.

Twente are also in action this weekend and, despite kicking off their season with a draw and two wins, they come into Saturday’s encounter with Heracles on Saturday having not won in three.