This Wednesday, a rescheduled fixture from matchweek 5 in the Eredivisie is set to take place. Back in mid-September, Ajax vs FC Utrecht was postponed due to a police strike. Nearly three months later, the match is finally being played, and the tension has only grown. Just one point currently separates second-placed Ajax and third-placed FC Utrecht in the league standings. For the Domstedelingen, it's yet another clash against a top-tier side in the competition.
Following their clash with PSV last Sunday, Utrecht are playing back-to-back Eredivisie matches against the traditional top three for the first time since April 2021 (then against Feyenoord and Ajax). It's a week of true tests for Ron Jans’ side, as these fixtures are against the current league leaders (PSV) and the team sitting in second place (Ajax).
This marks only the third time this century that Utrecht have faced teams from the top two of the standings in consecutive Eredivisie matches, the previous occasions being February-March 2004 and November 2019.
Regardless of who scores first, both sides have shown remarkable resilience when trailing this season. FC Utrecht have already claimed 12 points from losing positions in this Eredivisie campaign, matching their total from all of last season. Ajax, meanwhile, have gained 11 points after falling behind, seven of which came in their last four league matches.
The Amsterdammers have proven particularly hard to beat after conceding the opening goal, remaining unbeaten in their last five Eredivisie matches in which they went behind (three wins, two draws). The last time Ajax went on a longer unbeaten run in such scenarios was between April and September 2011, when they managed six matches without defeat.
| Team | Points from losing positions |
|---|---|
|
FC Utrecht |
12 |
|
Ajax |
11 |
|
Feyenoord |
6 |
|
PSV |
6 |
|
3 other teams |
5 |
This match also highlights the stark contrast for both teams compared to last season in the Eredivisie. Ajax have already amassed 14 more points than they had on 4 December last year, while FC Utrecht head into the game with a remarkable 18-point improvement compared to their position a year ago.
Eredivisie 2024/25
| # | Team | PL | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
PSV |
14 |
+39 |
39 |
|
2 |
Ajax |
13 |
+17 |
32 |
|
3 |
FC Utrecht |
13 |
+7 |
31 |
|
4 |
Feyenoord |
14 |
+18 |
29 |
|
5 |
FC Twente |
14 |
+15 |
28 |
Eredivisie 2023/24 (tot 4 december)
| # | Team | PL | GD | Pnts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
PSV |
14 |
+44 |
42 |
|
2 |
Feyenoord |
14 |
+28 |
32 |
|
3 |
AZ |
13 |
+23 |
30 |
|
8 |
Ajax |
13 |
+3 |
18 |
|
14 |
FC Utrecht |
14 |
-11 |
13 |
FC Utrecht’s last league victory in Amsterdam dates back to 3 October 2021, when they won 0-1. Since then, Ajax have won the last two Eredivisie home encounters against Utrecht (3-1 in 2023 and 2-0 in 2024). Ajax now have the chance to secure three consecutive home wins over Utrecht in the league for the first time since 1999-2003, when they managed six in a row.
A true midweek cracker in the Eredivisie!
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