The battle for the championship could not be decided on Sunday, but today Ajax gets a new chance to win the 36th national title in club history. If Erik ten Hag’s team wants to keep it in their own hands, then they must win against sc Heerenveen tonight.
Ajax already had the scale up for grabs on Sunday, but didn’t manage to beat AZ then† A late header by Edson Alvarez prevented Ajax from losing in Alkmaar in the nick of time: 2-2. Because PSV, which is second, also drew 2-2 against Feyenoord, the difference between the two clubs remains four points. If Ajax wins against Heerenveen tonight, that gap will be enough to be sure of the championship.
Other scenarios
It is not if this match also ends in a draw. If PSV, which plays against NEC tonight, or takes three points, the championship will only be decided on the last match day.
If PSV does not win, then the championship is unofficially in. Even if Ajax would lose from sc Heerenveen. The difference between the two clubs would then shrink to three points. In that case PSV would have a chance to have the same number of points on the last day of play. But because Ajax has a much better goal difference than PSV (+74 at +42), that probably wouldn’t be enough for first place.
The chance that a championship can be celebrated in Amsterdam this week is therefore considerable. An official celebration in the city center, as was the case in 2019, is excluded† On Monday, the municipality announced that such a ceremony cannot take place, because there are too few staff to manage it properly.
Disappointment
The disappointment with some fans turned out to be great. This is how Mayor Halsema announced to be inundated with threats. “I rarely respond to that. Now I want to ask urgently, hold back!”, she wrote on Instagram.
Ajax director Edwin van der Sar was in turn disappointed with the behavior of the supporters. “Of course I strongly disapprove of those insults and threats.” Did he let it know ANP (via nu.nl). “It doesn’t solve anything and it’s bad for the name of our club. But I think it’s really worthless, especially to our mayor.”
Tribute or not, many Ajax fans are expected to win the championship will come to downtown† “We’re going to have a party” an Ajax fan told AT5 yesterday† “And beyond that too. We go en masse to the Museumplein. It is much more fun there than in that cold Arena.”
lukokic
The week of the approaching championship has got a black edge for Ajax because of the sudden death of Jody Lukoki. The Congolese, who grew up in Amsterdam, who experienced three championships with Ajax, was only 29 years old. Ajax has announced that prior to the match 1 minute of silence in commemoration of Lukoki. Ajax players will also play with mourning bands.