PSV win Eredivisie Title after Ajax shocking late-season collapse
PSV Eindhoven have been crowned Eredivisie champions in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent Dutch football history, overtaking fierce rivals Ajax on the final day of the season.
PSV’s 3-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday secured their 26th Dutch league title, capping a sensational seven-game winning streak to close out the season. Goals from Luuk de Jong, Johan Bakayoko, and Malik Tillmanensured Peter Bosz’s side held off Ajax, who simultaneously beat FC Twente 2-0 but finished a point behind.
Ajax's Historic Collapse
At one point, Ajax looked destined to reclaim the Eredivisie crown, holding a nine-point lead with five games remaining. But a disastrous four-match winless run, including two losses and two draws, saw them squander their advantage and open the door for PSV’s late surge.
Key moments in Ajax’s implosion included a 3-0 home defeat to NEC Nijmegen and a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Groningen, where Ajax conceded a stoppage-time equalizer. That allowed PSV to leapfrog them into first place for the first time since February, a position they would not relinquish.
PSV’s Grit and Glory
PSV showed remarkable resilience, none more so than in their penultimate game against Feyenoord, where they came from two goals down to win 3-2, thanks to a Noa Lang winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time. That win gave the reigning champions belief and momentum heading into the final stretch.
On Sunday, American midfielder Malik Tillman capped off the title-clinching match with PSV’s third goal, while fellow U.S. international Sergiño Dest joined in the celebrations alongside captain Luuk de Jong, who lifted the trophy in front of jubilant fans at Sparta Stadion.
Bosz beats his old club
The title marks redemption for Peter Bosz, a former Ajax manager, now at the helm of PSV. His tactical adjustments and motivational leadership guided the club to an unbeaten finish, completing a remarkable turnaround that stunned Dutch football.
Farioli’s first season ends in heartbreak
For 35-year-old Francesco Farioli, Ajax’s new coach, the ending was brutal. What could’ve been a fairytale debut season turned into a nightmare collapse that cost the Amsterdam giants their record-extending 37th league title.
Despite the heartbreak, both PSV and Ajax have secured direct entry into next season’s UEFA Champions League, setting up another round of elite European competition and perhaps another chapter in their enduring rivalry.
SportsLigue