PSV are still the top dogs
Saturday saw the Johan Cruyff ArenA be the stage for the first proper high-profile clash of the new Eredivisie season. Hopefuls Ajax hosted reigning champions PSV in a heated, intense, attractive battle to make out who'd be the first to throw a solid hook.
Very quickly already, PSV showed what they were made of via Ricardo Pepi's opener. Ajax put their foot on the throttle next, creating a solid amount of chances that should've amounted to at least two goals, but resulted in just one after Tolu continued his scoring run. In the end, however, it was all PSV after Ajax failed to keep up after 60 minutes and lost 3-1, partially due to Michel Sanchez's questionable substitutions.
It also showed PSV's maturity, with Peter Bosz's men holding on for long enough to see their opponents lose control, seizing the opportunity when it presents itself, and lulling out the match when there's little need for a big offensive if it means they'd be tired towards the end, which has cost them wins in Amsterdam in the past.
Saturday's game also proved that Ajax are on the way, but simply aren't up to PSV's level yet. They did well for 60 minutes, proving a tough opponent for the team that won three straight titles, but ultimately could not keep up. Especially not after Tolu went off - he should absolutely be the no. 1 striker from now on.
Ruben van Bommel's charge
Speaking of Saturday's game, there was one moment that kept all of football-loving Netherlands talking until this very day - Ruben van Bommel's charge on Aaron Bouwman. A rash, ferocious, reckless challenge he committed to without even attempting to head the ball.
For Bouwman, it resulted in a bruised lung and several bruises to his sternum, which rules him out for at least the rest of September. For Van Bommel, it'll mean absolutely nothing except getting his third yellow card added to his season tally. That, despite the KNVB's officiating chief admitting that referee Sander van der Eijk and VAR Pol van Boekel made the wrong decision.
The foul has now gone viral and has drawn as many, if not more, question marks from abroad than in the Netherlands. The footballing world is puzzled, and so am I. Especially after Nokkvi Thorisson was given a red card for this foul less than 24 hours later.
No consistency, no correct VAR protocols, no rhyme or reason in officiating, and it's September 2026.
How good are AZ really?
It's been a fantastic start to the season for AZ and manager Leeroy Echteld, who was only appointed in the summer after serving as the interim boss between January and May. So far, Echteld has already won the KNVB Beker and started an impressive unbeaten run, with AZ last losing in April to Shakhtar Donetsk, while their last league loss dates back to March 22nd.
Echteld has a plethora of good players to his availability, with some of them in the best form of their careers right now. Midfield general Peer Koopmeiners stayed put amid interest from Club Brugge and fully controls the midfield, Ro-Zangelo Daal has been in top form with 4 goals in 5 league games, Mateo Chavez has been excellent from left-back with three assists and a goal, while Mexx Meerdink will hope to get things fully up and running after a fantastic goal on Sunday.
The game against Heerenveen showed good resilience in AZ, who came back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 in a tricky game that saw Heerenveen mostly have the upper hand. The Alkmaar side has been great, but their first real test in the league will come in October, when Feyenoord, FC Twente, and Ajax wait, and that's after visiting Sunderland in the UEFA Europa League on September 16th.
