With European qualifiers wrapped up, all Eredivisie sides returned to action for another goal‑filled weekend. PSV and Ajax look sharp and firing, while AZ remain top after collecting maximum points once again. Over in Rotterdam, Feyenoord stumbled, suffering a setback that dents their early title hopes writes Will Burns.
I have attached highlights from the clubs’ official YouTube channel where available so you can watch while you read along.
FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST 2026
FC GRONINGEN 2-3 FORTUNA SITTARD
Fortuna Sittard claimed their second win of the season with a 3–2 victory away in Groningen. Mohamed Ihattaren opened the scoring early after good work from Lequincio Zeefuik, though the hosts hit back through David van der Werff. The best moment of the match came when Zeefuik was sent through by Édouard Michut and cleverly chipped Etiënne Vaessen to make it 2–1. After Groningen made attacking changes, Anthony Descotte struck hard and low for 3-1, giving Fortuna a cushion.
Groningen pushed late and thought they had earned a penalty, but VAR ruled it offside. A Justin Hubner own goal in the 87th minute briefly raised tension, yet Fortuna held firm. Groningen, who were thrashed 5–1 by PSV last week, stay on six points from four matches, while Fortuna move to a surprising seven points at this stage.
SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST 2026
EXCELSIOR 2-1 SPARTA ROTTERDAM
Excelsior won the Rotterdam derby with a 2–1 victory over Sparta, dramatically sealed deep into injury time. Both sides were missing key midfielders, but Excelsior’s new loanees Aymen Sliti and Agust Orri Thorsteinsson made their mark early. Sliti opened the scoring after 24 minutes with a fierce strike from a corner, rewarding Excelsior’s strong start. Sparta improved before the break and equalised soon after halftime when Milan Zonneveld finished off a move sparked by a slip from Rick Meissen.
The match then swung back and forth, with Excelsior regaining control after tactical changes from coach Ruben den Uil. Sparta nearly conceded through an own goal from Bruno Martins Indi, but the decisive moment came in stoppage time. Nesto Groen rose highest from a corner and headed in the winner, sending the home crowd into celebration just before the final whistle.
AZ ALKMAAR 5-2 GO AHEAD EAGLES
AZ kept their perfect start intact with a big 5–2 win over Go Ahead Eagles, extending their run to four straight victories. Dave Kwakman opened the scoring with a crisp volley, the midfielder’s first for the club, before Victor Edvardsen equalised after capitalising on a rebound. Ro‑Zangelo Daal restored AZ’s lead before the break, and after half-time Lewis Schouten and Mateo Chávez pushed the score to 4–1, with Chávez smashing in via the crossbar.
Daal curled in his second late on, and Go Ahead grabbed a consolation through Mathis Suray after a chaotic rebound off the post. With twelve points and a +10 goal difference, AZ sit comfortably top of the table while Go Ahead remain on seven points from four games.
PEC ZWOLLE 1-3 NEC NIJMEGEN
NEC beat PEC Zwolle 3–1 in a chaotic contest that featured four penalties and two disallowed PEC goals. Tjaronn Chery converted two early spot‑kicks to put NEC in control, while Koen Kostons levelled from the third penalty just before half‑time. PEC thought they had equalised again after the break, but another offside call denied them. Their best chance to turn the match came with the fourth penalty of the night, yet Kostons smashed it against the crossbar.
With NEC under pressure, Dick Schreuder sent on Perr Schuurs for his first appearance in almost three years due to a series of injuries. The moment turned magical just seven minutes from time, the defender headed home to make it 3-1, he celebrated emotionally as his family watched on. It was the standout moment of a wild evening in Zwolle.
SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST 2026
FC UTRECHT 1-6 PSV
Utrecht coach Anthony Correia admitted he felt ashamed after his side’s heavy 6–1 defeat to PSV. The hosts had taken an early lead, but PSV responded with six goals and completely overran them. Correia said he wants to move onto the next game after this defeat, but captain Dani de Wit’s blunt post‑match comments, saying he felt “ashamed”, reflected the mood inside the squad.
Correia did agree with his captain’s assessment. He felt Utrecht started aggressively and held PSV reasonably well until just before half‑time, when conceding the 2–1 goal became a “mental killer.” Early in the second half, things worsened when Niklas Vesterlund went off injured, and Utrecht collapsed entirely. Correia stressed that the team’s lack of resilience in the final stages must be addressed.
With only one point from four matches, Utrecht’s situation is already worrying. Correia acknowledged the pressure but insisted the team must reset quickly. “I’m ashamed, but tomorrow is another day,” he said. “It’s far from perfect, and we have to do better. Letting it slip like that shows a lack of mental strength. These are hard lessons.”
At 2-1, PSV showed no mercy. After Stepanov’s opener, Ruben van Bommel equalised with a stunning strike. Guus Til put PSV ahead before the break, and in the second half the champions dominated completely. Mauro Junior’s free‑kick made it 3–1, substitute Sven Mijnans, who replace a underperforming Ricardo Pepi deep into the second half, added a long‑range goal after missing a penalty, Til scored again, and Sergiño Dest finished the rout with PSV’s sixth.
Utrecht remain winless and now turn their attention to next weekend’s game with Go Ahead Eagles while PSV, revitalised after back‑to‑back big wins, head into a high‑profile clash with rivals Ajax in Amsterdam.
FEYENOORD 2-2 ADO DEN HAAG
Feyenoord dropped points for the second time this season after a 2–2 draw at home against promoted ADO Den Haag. Giovanni van Bronckhorst had to adjust his line-up late when Jeremiah St. Juste withdrew during the warm‑up, bringing Javi López into the elevne and shifting Mika Mármol centrally. Despite a lively start from Gaoussou Diarra, De Kuip fell silent after twelve minutes when Oussama Targhalline lost the ball cheaply and Nigel Thomas punished the mistake with ADO’s first real chance.
The Rotterdammers pushed hard for an equaliser but struggled to break down ADO’s compact defence. The outgoing striker Ayase Ueda, who is set to seal a move to Lille, was denied in a one‑on‑one by goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema, who also saved well from Gjivai Zechiël. The visitors defended their lead with determination and reached half‑time still in front, leaving Feyenoord frustrated and chasing the game.
The second half began with immediate danger from Feyenoord as Sem Steijn hit the post from a Ueda pass. But instead of tying the game up, ADO doubled their lead when Sekou Sylla surprised Tjark Ernst with a low strike from the edge of the box. De Kuip was in an uproar and Feyenoord suddenly faced a serious problem but Ueda pulled one back shortly after the hour mark, getting his first goal of the season.
The hosts increased the pressure and pushed ADO deeper, yet the visitors remained threatening on the counter. Illaijh de Ruijter wasted a huge chance to make it 3-1, and moments later Anis Hadj Moussa struck the post. The Algerian made amends minutes after, cutting inside and firing in the 2–2 equaliser to ignite the stadium. A fierce late storm followed, with Feyenoord throwing everything forward in search of a winner but ADO defended bravely and rode their luck at times, ultimately holding on for a valuable point and their first result of the season.
Luciano Valente claimed he was disappointed with the result, speaking to ESPN after the game: “This one hits hard. This shouldn’t happen to us. I think they had two shots on target and they went straight in. Then it just becomes a very difficult match, but we brought that upon ourselves.”
“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but it just shouldn’t happen” continued the Feyenoord captain. “We need to work on that, because it shouldn’t happen here in De Kuip, and it shouldn’t happen away either.”
WILLEM II 2-2 SC HEERENVEEN
Willem II and Heerenveen shared points after a lively match that swung back and forth on Sunday afternoon. The first half produced chances for both sides, with the home side threatening through Uriel van Aalst, Devin Haen and Jaden Slory, while Heerenveen struggled to create clear openings. A strong tackle from Oliver Braude prevented a late Willem II goal, leaving the score goal less at the break.
In the second half, Willem II struck first when Van Aalst finished from close range after a cross from Nathan Tjoe-A-On on the hour mark. Heerenveen responded quickly through Jacob Trenskow three minutes later, and Braude then put the visitors 1–2 ahead in the 77th minute, despite protests from Willem II, who felt Haen had been fouled in the build‑up.
Haen soon made amends, racing through on goal and firing in the equaliser. Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, with Willem II collecting their first point of the season, while Heerenveen move to five points.
SC TELSTAR 0-4 AJAX
Ajax supporters were treated to another standout performance from Tolu Arokodare, who smashed in a long‑range goal against Telstar and dominated the conversation online. The man on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, delivered a thunderous strike made it 3-0 and cemented his status as a fan favourite, with many calling him an upgraded version of Brian Brobbey. The Amsterdammers ultimately cruised to a 4–0 win in Velsen‑Zuid after a strong second‑half surge.
Ajax coach Michel Sánchez rotated lightly, keeping Youri Baas on the bench amid FC Porto interest and handing Dies Janse his first league start since 2024. Oscar Gloukh played on the left, while new signings Viktor Tsygankov and Sofyan Amrabat were not involved. The first half was quiet until Davy Klaassen tapped in his 40th opening goal for Ajax then Telstar threatened through Gerald Alders, and Julian Brandt had a goal ruled out for offside.
After the break, Ajax took full control. Steven Berghuis doubled the lead with a sharp finish, Arokodare blasted in the third after capitalising on a Ronald Koeman Jr. error, and Marcos Leonardo added a fourth from a rebound. The comfortable victory keeps Ajax unbeaten and gives them momentum heading into a crucial showdown with PSV next weekend.
SC CAMBUUR 1-4 FC TWENTE
Twente closed the weekend out with a commanding 4–1 win away at Cambuur, despite having no travelling support. Away fans were banned after the chaotic Cambuur–Feyenoord match last Sunday, where mass fireworks from the visiting section injured seven home supporters. Twente tried to overturn the decision, but the mayor of Leeuwarden refused.
In response, a set of Twente’s fans announced they would still travel, protesting outside the stadium and watching the match in the city if barred from entry. The club had already stated it “totally disagreed” with the ruling, calling it a competitive disadvantage. On the pitch, however, Twente made sure the ban did not affect their performance, delivering a dominant victory thanks to goals from Ruud Nijstad, Wout Weghorst, Marko Pjaca and Younes Taha.
Twente controlled the match from the start, and Nijstad’s superb top‑corner strike set the tone. Weghorst quickly doubled the lead after being sent through by Joël Drommel, and although Cambuur briefly threatened before the break, Pjaca’s early second‑half finish — created by a brilliant Sondre Orjasaeter assist — effectively killed the contest.
Cambuur were forced to absorb wave after wave of pressure, with goalkeeper Thijs Jansen preventing an even heavier defeat. Twente still found a fourth when sloppy defending gifted Taha a late goal. The home crowd finally had something to cheer when Ilyès Hamache made it 1–4 in the closing minutes, but it did little to soften another painful loss. Twente climb to ninth with a game in hand, while Cambuur remain without a point.
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