Ajax v PSV Eindhoven: The lowdown on Sunday's Eredivisie showdown
Last Updated: 03/10/15 1:06pm
Ajax host rivals PSV Eindhoven in Sunday's Eredivisie clash live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 1.25pm. Here, we take a closer look at the fixture and who may come out on top…
How do they stand?
Ajax finished 17 points behind champions PSV last season, but they sit top of the pile this year after the first seven rounds of fixtures. Frank de Boer's men have made a blistering start to the campaign, winning six of their opening games without conceding a single goal. Indeed, the only time they have failed to keep a clean sheet was in their 2-2 draw with FC Twente last month. In total they have scored 18 goals, and they will be hoping to bounce back from Thursday's 1-1 Europa League draw with Norwegian side Molde when PSV visit the Amsterdam Arena.
PSV are five points behind Ajax in fourth place having lost key men Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay during the summer. Last season Phillip Cocu's men only failed to win five league games all season; this year they have already stumbled three times. There were draws with ADO Den Haag and Heerenveen, and after beating Memphis' new side Manchester United in the Champions League, they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Heracles. PSV got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen last weekend, but the pressure is on to close the gap on Ajax on Sunday.
What happened when they met last season?
Last year's meetings between the two sides ended in two away wins. When PSV visited the Amsterdam Arena last August, Ajax's Anwar El Ghazi gave the hosts a first-half lead, but their rivals hit back after the break, with Memphis, Luciano Narsingh and Florian Jozefzoon finding the net to seal a 3-1 win.
Ajax earned payback at the Philips Stadion in March as they triumphed by the same scoreline. Luuk de Jong appeared to have rescued a point for the hosts when he cancelled out Ricardo Kishna's opener in the 77th minute, but Ajax duo Lass Schone and El Ghazi struck late goals to stall PSV's title charge.
Over the last five seasons, Ajax boast a superior head-to-head record. In their last 10 meetings, Ajax have won five, there have been three draws and PSV have only won twice.
Key men
Anwar El Ghazi
Young forward El Ghazi has made a storming start to the season with seven goals in seven appearances putting him joint-top of the Eredivisie scoring charts. The 20-year-old, who can play on the right or through the middle, joined the club from Sparta Rotterdam in 2013 and broke into the first team last season, scoring nine goals and claiming eight assists in 31 appearances.
El Ghazi has Moroccan parents, but his good form has recently been rewarded with his first call-up to the Netherlands' senior team. His performances have also attracted interest from Premier League clubs, according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper says Stoke, Southampton and Bournemouth are tracking El Ghazi, while he has also been scouted by Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
Luciano Narsingh
With captain and top scorer Luke de Jong suffering ankle ligament damage last weekend, PSV will need some of their other senior stars to step up. A lot will be expected of winger Narsingh, who has scored two goals and provided two assists so far this season.
The Dutch international, who plays on the right-hand side of PSV's attack, has been handed more responsibility after the departures of Memphis and Wijnaldum. Narsingh is pacey and direct and he is well known to Manchester United fans having headed PSV's winning goal at the Philips Stadion last month.
Watch Ajax v PSV Eindhoven live on Sky Sports 3HD from 1.25pm this Sunday
