Ajax and PSV in De Topper early Eredivisie season showdown

The Netherlands’ top two teams this term so far, Ajax and PSV, face an early season showdown in the Eredivisie, for a chance to draw first blood and earn bragging rights for the rest of the campaign.

It is the home side Ajax, league champions for the previous four years, who go into this battle as odds-on favourites at 19/20. They have not lost against their upcoming opponents in their last six meetings at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Frank de Boer’s men have not conceded against PSV, 13/5 both for a victory and draw, in three of their last four head-to-heads on this ground, and are 23/10 to keep a clean sheet again, or 3/1 to win to nil.

These sides have played just two games this season in the league, both on six points after comprehensive victories, with Phillip Cocu’s club top on goal-difference. PSV saw off challengers Willem II 3-1 and NAC Breda 6-1, while Ajax beat Chelsea’s feeder team Vitesse 4-1 and Louis van Gaal’s former outfit AZ Alkmaar 3-1.

For the away side, they have the in-form Netherlands World Cup star Memphis Depay to call on. The 20-year-old, who has been linked with a transfer to the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham this summer, has smashed in four goals this term so far. He is 23/10 to score anytime, and an enticing 12/1 to bag a brace or better again.

Another player for PSV who is worth backing is last season’s Newcastle United loanee Luuk de Jong. He is the same price in those markets. Captain Georginio Wijnaldum and Belgian wonderkid Zakaria Bakkali, meanwhile, are 11/4 and 7/2 respectively to net anytime.

For Ajax, they can rely on Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, who is a reported target for QPR. He has scored three times against PSV in recent seasons, and is 13/8 to get a goal again. Danish midfielder Lasse Schone, who has netted three times this term so far, is a tempting 7/4 chance.