Prediction: Ajax vs PSV

Verdict: Ajax win and both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/1

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides who are looking to pick up a piece of silverware before the new Eredivisie campaign gets underway next week, Ajax will welcome PSV to the Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday evening.

Ajax

Starting with Saturday’s hosts, while Ajax would have been disappointed to have seen their Champions League dreams come to an abrupt end against Tottenham back in May, the Dutch giants enjoyed a stellar campaign. Regaining their Eredivisie title for the first time in four years by holding a three-point buffer over PSV in the final standings, de Godenzonen find themselves in the midst of a real resurge. While the former European giants may have seen the likes of Frankie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt leave Amsterdam this summer, Ajax did secure a double-winning season and a huge part of their continued success has been their form in the final third. Led by leading goalscorer and attacking talisman Dusan Tadic who bagged 28 Eredivisie goals last season and lifted the Golden Boot in Holland’s top-tier, Saturday’s hosts recorded an astonishing 119 league goals, the best return of any side across Europe’s top tiers.

Team News

Hassane Bandé is back in training but could still miss out this weekend due to an ankle injury.

PSV

As for the visitors, coming from behind in dramatic fashion to gain a first-leg advantage over Basel in their Champions League qualifier earlier in the week, PSV will be desperate to build off of that result this weekend. Although the mood Mark van Bommel’s camp should be on a high after their victory over the Swiss outfit earlier in the week, the former Dutch icon will know that his men must improve on some continued defensive issues. Shipping two or more goals in three of their last four contests, the guests have also recorded just three clean sheets in their last 13 matches across all competitions. With many around Eindhoven still upset following last year’s top goalscorer Luuk de Jong making the move to Sevilla over the summer, much of PSV’s hopes in the final third will fall on the shoulders of winger Hirving Lozano. Despite interest still hanging over him from across Europe, the Mexican international recorded 17 Eredivisie goals last season, the fifth-best return of any player in the division.

Team News

PSV have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Amsterdam.

Key Factors to Consider

• The last time the two sides met Ajax came away with a 3-1 victory.
• Ajax scored 119 Eredivisie goals last season, more than any other team in Europe’s top division.
• PSV have conceded two or more goals in three of their last four outings.
• Ajax have failed to record a clean sheet in any of their last nine matches across all competitions.
• Dusan Tadic scored 28 domestic goals for Ajax last season.

Conclusion

While Ajax may have seen some high profile starlets leave Amsterdam this summer, the defending Dutch champions have continued on a very eye-catching revival. Continuing to shine in the final third and looking to exploit on PSV’s defensive issues, de Godenzonen are a rightful favorite to lift the Super Cup on Saturday. With the hosts picking up an empathic 3-1 win when they last hosted PSV at the Johan Cruijff Arena back in March, we’re backing a similar outcome on this weekend.

Verdict: Ajax win and both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/1

Bookmaker: Bet365