Ajax vs Heerenveen: H2H Stats That Predict the Winner
Eredivisie Standings After 2 Matchdays: A Beginner’s Guide
Welcome to the world of Dutch football! If you’re new to the Eredivisie (that’s the top professional football league in the Netherlands), this guide will help you understand exactly what’s happening after the first two rounds of matches.
What Is the Eredivisie?
Think of the Eredivisie like the Premier League of the Netherlands. It has 18 teams that play each other twice per season—once at home, once away—for a total of 34 matches each.
At the end of the season:
- The champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League
- Runner-up gets a Champions League qualifier spot
- 3rd place enters the Europa League
- Bottom two teams (17th & 18th) are relegated to the second division
- 16th place plays a playoff against a second-division team
Fun Fact: Famous clubs like Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord have dominated this league for decades, but every season brings surprises!
How to Read the League Table
Before we dive in, here’s your decoder ring for the columns:
| Column | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pld | Games Played | Everyone starts at 0, max is 34 |
| W | Wins | 3 points each |
| D | Draws | 1 point each |
| L | Losses | 0 points |
| GF | Goals For | How many your team scored |
| GA | Goals Against | How many they let in |
| GD | Goal Difference | GF minus GA — tiebreaker #1 |
| Pts | Total Points | The main ranking number! |
Important: Teams are ranked by Points first, then Goal Difference, then Goals For. If still tied, head-to-head record decides.
The Standings After Matchday 2
Here’s the full table in plain English. We’ve grouped them to make it easier to digest.
Top of the Table — Perfect Starts
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AZ Alkmaar | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| 2 | Groningen | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
Hot Start: Both teams won their first two games! AZ leads on goal difference (+5 vs +4).
Unbeaten & In the Mix — 4 Points Each
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Go Ahead Eagles | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 |
| 4 | Fortuna Sittard | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 |
| 5 | Ajax | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| 6 | PSV Eindhoven | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 7 | Feyenoord | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 8 | Heerenveen | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Did You Know? Six teams are tied on 4 points! Goal difference separates them. Go Ahead Eagles top this group with a +3 GD thanks to scoring 6 goals.
Middle of the Pack — 3 Points (1 Win, 1 Loss)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Excelsior | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 3 |
| 10 | NEC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 3 |
| 11 | Sparta Rotterdam | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 12 | Twente | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 13 | Telstar | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
High Scorers: Excelsior and NEC both netted 5 goals but conceded a couple too. Telstar is the only team here with a negative goal difference.
Bottom of the Table — Still Looking for First Point
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Utrecht | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
| 15 | PEC Zwolle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
| 16 | ADO Den Haag | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
| 17 | Willem II | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
| 18 | Cambuur | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
Early Struggles: Five teams have zero points. Willem II and Cambuur have shipped 7-8 goals each — they’ll need to tighten up defense fast!
Key Takeaways After Two Games
- AZ & Groningen are the early pace-setters with maximum points.
- The "Big Three" (Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord) are all unbeaten but haven’t hit top gear yet — each has a draw.
- Go Ahead Eagles are the surprise package — 6 goals scored in 2 games!
- Goal difference matters: It separates teams on equal points (look at the 4-point group!).
- It’s very early: 32 games remain. Last season’s champions Feyenoord started slowly too.
Summary
After just two matchdays, the Eredivisie table shows:
- 2 teams with perfect records (AZ, Groningen)
- 6 teams unbeaten with 4 points
- 5 teams with 3 points (1 win, 1 loss)
- 5 teams still searching for their first point
The league is tight at the top and wide open. With 34 games total, there’s plenty of time for teams to climb — or fall.
Remember: Football is a marathon, not a sprint. Two games tell you who started well, not who will win.
FAQ
How many games are in an Eredivisie season?
Each of the 18 teams plays 34 matches (17 home, 17 away) — playing every other team twice.
What happens if teams finish level on points?
Tiebreakers in order:
- Goal Difference (GD)
- Goals For (GF)
- Head-to-head record
- Play-off (rare, only if needed for titles/Champions League/relegation)
Why does AZ lead Groningen if both have 6 points?
Goal difference! AZ: +5 (6 scored, 1 conceded) vs Groningen: +4 (6 scored, 2 conceded). Every goal counts!
Are Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord in trouble with draws?
Not at all. Two games is a tiny sample. All three are unbeaten, have clean sheets (Ajax), and historically start slow. They’re well-positioned.
When do the bottom teams get relegated?
Final standings after Matchday 34 (usually May). 17th & 18th go down automatically; 16th enters a playoff.
Data sourced from BBC Sport Eredivisie table after Matchday 2. Standings subject to change weekly!