Eredivisie

Highlighted: De Klassieker: Ajax vs. Feyenoord – Who Will Come Out on Top?

31 January 2025

After a weekend off, Ajax and Feyenoord return to Eredivisie action with a thrilling showdown: De Klassieker. This fixture is always intense, and this edition is no different. Will Ajax extend their lead, or can Feyenoord close the gap and reignite the title race?

Ajax welcomes their biggest rival on Sunday with a nine-point lead. It’s the first time since May 9, 2021, that the gap between the two sides has been this large in Ajax’s favor ahead of a league clash (back then, 24 points, with Ajax winning 0-3). A stark contrast to less than a year ago, when Feyenoord hosted Ajax at De Kuip with a 21-point lead and cruised to a 6-0 victory.

Historical Advantage for Ajax, but the Trend is Shifting

For Feyenoord, a visit to Ajax has often felt like a trip to the dentist. The Rotterdam side has lost 14 of their last 18 Eredivisie away games against Ajax (2 wins, 2 draws). However, recent years tell a different story. Feyenoord has won their last two league visits to the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The last time they managed three consecutive away wins against Ajax in the Eredivisie was between 1961 and 1963.

Giménez: Key Player Facing Injury Concerns?

One of the big question marks ahead of this clash is the fitness of Santiago Giménez, who suffered an injury in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Mexican forward has fond memories of playing in Amsterdam. On his first visit, he scored the opening goal in a 2-3 victory, and last season, he went one step further by netting a hat-trick. That made him just the fifth Feyenoord player to ever score a hat-trick against Ajax in the Eredivisie—and the first to do so in Amsterdam.

Only one Feyenoord player has ever scored more Eredivisie away goals against Ajax: Cor van der Gijp (5 goals, Peter Houtman 4). Can Giménez find the net again on his third visit?

AMSTERDAM, 24-09-2023 JohanCruyff Arena, Match between Ajax and Feyenoord. Feyenoord celebrating 0-1 , Feyenoord player Santiago Gimenez scored

Ajax Solid at the Back, Feyenoord Struggling for Form

Ajax is the only team to have won their last four Eredivisie matches, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been flawless. Defensively, Francesco Farioli’s team has been solid, keeping three clean sheets in those four games—matching their total from the ten previous league matches. However, their attacking play has lacked the fluidity and dominance of past seasons.

Feyenoord, on the other hand, has been going through a rough patch. They have picked up just four points from their last four matches, conceding eight goals—more than any of their direct rivals at the top of the table.

Last 4 Eredivisie Matches: Top 5 Performers

#	Team	Points	Goals Conceded	Clean Sheets
1	Ajax	12	1	3
2	Go Ahead Eagles	10	5	1
3	PEC Zwolle	7	4	0
4	N.E.C.	7	6	1
5	PSV	7	7	1

ROTTERDAM, 30-10-2024, Stadium de Kuip, Match between Feyenoord and Ajax. Ajax player Jorrel Hato celebrating 0-2

Milestone for Pasveer?

For Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, Sunday’s match could be a special one. He is set to make his 300th Eredivisie appearance, an achievement that no other player has taken so long to reach—his debut came 20 years and 311 days ago, on March 28, 2004.

Pasveer also boasts an impressive record against Feyenoord. In his last five league matches against the Rotterdam side, he has kept a clean sheet every time (twice with Ajax, three times with Vitesse). Last season, he even provided an assist against Feyenoord. Will the experienced shot-stopper take center stage once again?