Ajax vs Heerenveen: The Stats That Predict a Massive Upset
Eredivisie League Table After 2 Matchdays: A Simple Guide to the Dutch Football Standings
What Is the Eredivisie?
Imagine a big soccer tournament where 18 teams from the Netherlands play against each other twice—once at home and once away. That’s the Eredivisie (pronounced "air-uh-dee-vie-zay"), the top football league in the Netherlands.
After just two matchdays (two rounds of games), we already have a league table showing who’s doing well and who’s struggling. Think of it like a scoreboard after the first few games of a season.
Important Point: This table is from early in the season (after only 2 games per team). A lot can change as the season goes on!
How to Read the League Table
Before we dive in, let’s learn what the columns mean—in super simple terms:
| Column | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Pos | Position in the table (1st place, 2nd place, etc.) |
| Team | The club’s name |
| P | Games Played (so far, everyone has played 2) |
| W | Games Won |
| D | Games Drawn (tied) |
| L | Games Lost |
| GF | Goals For (how many goals the team scored) |
| GA | Goals Against (how many goals they let in) |
| GD | Goal Difference (GF minus GA — higher is better) |
| Pts | Points (Win = 3 pts, Draw = 1 pt, Loss = 0 pts) |
The Current Standings (After 2 Games)
Here’s the full table, grouped by how teams are doing:
Top of the Table – Perfect Starts (6 Points)
These two teams have won both their games! Maximum points.
| Pos | Team | P | 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 |
Why they’re on top:
- AZ Alkmaar scored 6 goals and only let in 1 — best goal difference (+5)
- Groningen also won both, scoring 6 but conceding 2 (+4)
Unbeaten & Close Behind (4 Points)
Six teams are undefeated (1 win, 1 draw). They’re all on 4 points, separated by goal difference.
| Pos | Team | P | 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 |
Important Point: Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord are the "Big Three" of Dutch football. They’re all unbeaten but not at the very top yet — early days!
Fun fact: Heerenveen has the fewest goals scored (1) but also the fewest conceded (0) — they’re winning tight games!
Mixed Results – One Win, One Loss (3 Points)
Five teams have 3 points (1 win, 1 loss). Goal difference decides their order.
| Pos | Team | P | 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 |
Notice: Excelsior and NEC scored 5 goals each but lost one game. Telstar is the only team in this group with a negative goal difference (-1).
Bottom of the Table – Still Looking for First Point (0 Points)
Four teams have lost both games and have zero points.
| Pos | Team | P | 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 |
Important Point: Willem II and Cambuur have the worst goal differences (-6). But remember — it’s only 2 games! Plenty of time to turn things around.
Key Takeaways & Storylines
1. AZ Alkmaar & Groningen Are Early Pace-Setters
Both have 6/6 points. AZ has the best attack (6 goals) and best defense (1 conceded).
2. The "Big Three" Are Solid but Not Spectacular
- Ajax: 1 win, 1 draw, zero goals conceded — great defense!
- PSV: High-scoring draw (4-3 total goals in their two games)
- Feyenoord: Similar — 3 goals for, 2 against
3. Goal Difference Matters!
Look at positions 3–8: all have 4 points but are ranked by GD.
Positions 11–12 (Sparta & Twente): identical records (1W, 1L, 3GF, 2GA, +1GD, 3pts) — tied on everything!
4. It’s Very Early
- 32 games remain for each team
- Last season’s champions (PSV) are 6th
- Bottom teams (like Utrecht) were mid-table last year
Summary
After 2 matchdays in the 2024/25 Eredivisie:
- 2 teams have perfect records (AZ, Groningen)
- 6 teams are unbeaten (the Big Three + Go Ahead Eagles, Fortuna, Heerenveen)
- 5 teams have mixed results (1 win, 1 loss)
- 5 teams have zero points (Utrecht, Zwolle, ADO, Willem II, Cambuur)
- Goal difference is separating teams with equal points
- 32 games left — everything can change!
Remember: This table is just a snapshot. Football seasons are marathons, not sprints!
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Why does AZ Alkmaar rank above Groningen if both have 6 points?
Because of goal difference! AZ scored 6 and conceded 1 (+5), while Groningen scored 6 and conceded 2 (+4). When points are tied, goal difference decides the order.
How many points do you get for a win, draw, or loss?
- Win = 3 points
- Draw = 1 point
- Loss = 0 points
What does "Goal Difference" mean and why does it matter?
Goal Difference = Goals For minus Goals Against.
It’s the tiebreaker when teams have the same points. A higher GD means you’re winning by bigger margins or conceding fewer goals.
Are the teams at the bottom doomed for the season?
Absolutely not! It’s only 2 games out of 34. Many teams start slow and climb the table. For example, a couple of wins in a row can jump you 5–6 spots!
When is the next update to this table?
After Matchday 3 (the third round of games). Every weekend, teams play, and the table updates. Check back in a week for the new standings!
Enjoy following the Eredivisie! Whether you’re cheering for Ajax, supporting an underdog, or just learning the game — every matchday brings new stories.