The 2024/25 Eredivisie season witnessed one of the most dramatic title races in football history, with Ajax squandering a commanding lead over PSV Eindhoven.
Ajax, at a point in the just concluded Eredivisie season, were nine points clear of PSV Eindhoven with five games to go, but in a surprising twist of things, PSV won the league title on the final day by a point after beating Sparta Rotterdam 3-1.
Ajax Collapse: A Historic Implosion
Ajax’s downfall is being described as one of the greatest title-race collapses in European football history, with no team in the top seven European leagues surrendering a nine-point lead with five games left since 1995/96.
The league leaders enjoyed a 14-match unbeaten streak, fueling confidence that they would cruise to the title, but their campaign ultimately unravelled.
Their problems started after a run of four winless games, which included draws to 10-man Groningen and Sparta Rotterdam, with heavy losses to FC Utrecht and NEC Nijmegen, which left Ajax a point behind PSV going into the last game of the season.
Over these four matches, Ajax were only able to get two points which tilted the balance of the title.
Goals from Jordan Henderson and Wout Werghost secured a win for Ajax against FC Twente but the damage had already been done, as PSV also won their last game to secure the championship.
And with the season done and dusted, Ajax will reflect with regret on squandering a golden opportunity to capitalise on their advantage, drawing 2-2 against Groningen despite their opponents being reduced to 10 men, a missed chance that proved costly in their title race collapse.
Leading 2-1 after Wout Weghorst’s 68th-minute goal and with Groningen’s Luciano Valente sent off in the 93rd minute, the visitors appeared to be in pole position to reclaim the Eredivisie lead.
However, a shocking 99th-minute equalizer from Thijmen Blokzijl exposed their inability to capitalize on the numerical advantage.
Despite dominating possession for most of the game and creating chances, Ajax’s lack of clinical finishing and defensive lapses cost them two vital points.
This draw, part of a four-game winless streak, saw Ajax drop to second, one point behind PSV, marking a critical turning point in their historic title-race collapse.
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PSV Seizes Ajax’s Mistakes To Win Eredivisie
The remarkable comeback by PSV to clinch the 2024/25 Eredivisie title on the final day was a testament to their resilience, clinical execution, and ability to capitalize on Ajax’s dramatic collapse.
The team showed great mental strength by mounting a relentless winning run, showcasing their ability to handle pressure and maintain momentum and a run that saw them overturn the deficit and surpass Ajax by a single point.
The PSV team also showed great determination to finish the season in the best possible way and they did by finishing the season with a run of seven wins from seven games, scoring 25 goals and conceding just seven in the process.
PSV’s comeback to date remains one of the most dramatic endings to an Eredivisie campaign, as no team in Europe’s top seven leagues had overcome a nine-point deficit with five games remaining since 1995/96.
Their ability to seize the mistakes of their counterpart and maintain a perfect record in the run-in cemented their status as deserving champions.
And with the agony of a title miss, Ajax head coach Francesco Farioli has decided to step down from his position, and former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been linked with a move back to his former club.
PSV Eindhoven clinched the 2024/25 Eredivisie title, leaving Ajax devastated after a dramatic comeback, and this triumph not only reestablishes PSV as a dominant force in Dutch football but also lays a robust foundation for sustained success in both domestic and European competitions.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / DeFodi Images
Recording Date: 19.05.2025