While Ajax will win the festival for the third time in four seasons, PSV will be in the final for the first time in nine years.
PSV’s 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-finals when they lost 2-1 at home to Leicester City, losing the same aggregate score.
Israeli veteran Eran Zahavi scored his 17th goal of the season just before the 30-minute mark to give the hosts the lead, but two delayed second-half goals from James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira turned the game around and helped the Foxes qualify. four.
Although PSV will be disappointed not to have reached the semi-finals, Roger Schmidt’s men are just one game away from clinching the domestic title and this weekend they will try to take over KNVB Beker for the first time since 2011. 12.
PSV already beat Ajax on Sunday in this season’s domestic final, when they claimed a 4-0 victory in the Dutch Super Cup in August, with Noni Madueke (2), Yorbe Vertessen and Mario Gotze on the scoresheet.
Schmidt’s side, however, have since lost back-to-back games against Ajax in the Eredivisie, suffering a heavy 5-0 away defeat in October before losing 2-1 on home soil in January.
PSV beat Fortuna Sittard, Telstar, NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles on their way to the final, scoring at least two goals, but their biggest challenge will come this weekend as it will be their first match at the festival when they face each other. like the helpless.
Ajax go into Sunday’s final having won six of their last seven games in all competitions, including a narrow 2-1 victory at home to Sparta Rotterdam last weekend.
Joeri de Kamps gave Sparta a wonderful lead midway through the first half, but a goal from Davy Klaassen just 4 minutes after the break restored parity for the hosts, before Dusan Tadic turned it on from the penalty spot immediately after the hour mark, scoring his 15th. objetivo. de the season, to give Ajax 3 points.
De Godenzonen remains on the verge of clinching his 28th Eredivisie title as they remain top of the table, four points behind second-placed PSV with just five league games remaining.
While speculation remains rife regarding the future of head coach Erik ten Hag, who could reportedly be announced as the new Manchester United boss for next season after this weekend’s final, the 52-year-old and his squad will be fully focussed on retaining their KNVB Beker crown.
The Dutch giants enjoyed their way to this year’s final, beating Barendrecht, Excelcior Maassluis, Vitesse and AZ Alkmaar with a combined score of 20-0.
Ajax have only won the competition three times in the last 12 years, including twice in the last three seasons, but they will be confident of success on Sunday as they have only lost one of their last 10 meetings against PSV across all tournaments.
PSV will be without centre-back Olivier Boscagli due to a knee injury, while Madueke, Armando Obispo, Ryan Thomas and Phillipp Mwene are minor doubts and will be assessed before kick-off.
In Boscagli’s absence, Jordan Teze is expected to return to central defense alongside Andre Ramalho, joining full-backs Mauro Junior and Philipp Max at the back.
Goalkeeper Joel Drommel has started all four games in this year’s tournament and he will likely keep his place between the sticks ahead of Yvon Mvogo.
Gotze, Erick Gutierrez and Ibrahim Sangaré are expected to retain their places in midfield, while sought-after striker Cody Gakpo, who has registered 17 goals and 15 assists in 41 games this season, is expected to start in a trio. Zahavi and Ritsu Doan.
As for Ajax, Brazilian striker Antony is ruled out with an ankle injury and left-back Nicolas Tagliafico is doubtful due to a knock, but Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez have recovered from muscle problems and will be candidates to play this weekend.
Mazraoui’s return to right-back will likely see Jurrien Timber return to the centre of defence alongside Martinez, while Daley Blind is expected to continue at left-back.
After more than seven months out with a groin injury, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was called up to the bench during last weekend’s win over Sparta, and now that the 39-year-old is back in top form, Ten Hag could start the season. veteran striker André Onana.
After scoring in his last two starts, Davy Klaassen could retain his position in midfield alongside the ubiquitous duo of Ryan Gravenberch and Edson Alvarez.
Ten Hag faces the decision of whether to sign Sebastien Haller or Danilo as a centre-forward; The former has scored 33 goals in 37 games in all competitions this season, while the latter is this year’s top scorer for KNVB Beker with six goals in just 3 games.
Possible XI for PSV Eindhoven 😀 Rommel; Junior, Teze, Ramalho, Max; Sangaré, Gutiérrez; Doan, Götze, Gakpo; Zahaví
Possible XI for Ajax: Stekelenburg; Mazraoui, Madera, Martinez, Ciego; Gravenberch, Álvarez, Klaassen; Tadic, Haller, Berghuis
With both PSV and Ajax looking vulnerable in defence in recent weeks, goals are to be expected this weekend. Five of the last six meetings between these two sides have seen at least three goals scored.
Another thrilling showdown is about to take place between arguably the two most powerful Dutch groups at the moment, but given Ajax’s recent good luck against PSV, we may see Ten Hag’s men overshadow their conflicting parties and retain their crown.
Our investigation of all available data, adding up to recent performances and player stats up to an hour before kick-off, suggests that the maximum likely final results of this fit an Ajax win with odds of 42. 48%. a 33. 93% chance and a draw had a 23. 6% chance.
The probable maximum score is an Ajax win by 1-2 with odds of 8. 87%. The next probable maximum scores for this final outcome were 0-1 (7. 26%) and 0-2 (6. 05%). PSV Eindhoven’s maximum would probably win 2-1 (7. 82%), while in the event of a draw they would win 1-1 (10. 65%). The actual outcome of 2-1 was predicted with a probability of 7. 8%.