PSV champions as Ajax slump costs them Eredivisie title

PSV won seven games in a row to become Dutch champions for the 26th time

PSV Eindhoven were crowned Eredivisie champions for a second consecutive season as Ajax paid the price for their late-season collapse.

On the final day of the season, PSV were 3-1 winners at Sparta Rotterdam and that was enough to finish one point ahead of second-placed Ajax.

It completed a remarkable transformation in fortunes, with PSV having been nine points adrift of the summit with five games to go.

Ajax's ill-timed dip in form dramatically opened the door for PSV, and they strode through to guarantee a 26th Dutch league title.

When Ajax completed a double over PSV by winning 2-0 in Eindhoven on 30 March, they looked to have a firm first hand on the trophy.

They required only six points from their final five games to be Dutch champions for a record 37th time - and PSV had more or less thrown in the towel.

"After the home defeat against Ajax, we were nine points behind and we had already given up," said PSV captain Luuk de Jong, as surprised as anyone by the turnaround.

Ivan Perisic settled PSV's nerves in Rotterdam as the 36-year-old Croatian put them ahead shortly before the half-hour mark, arriving at the back post to head home a cross from Olivier Boscagli.

Gjivai Zechiel equalised for 11th-placed Sparta seven minutes into the second half.

With Ajax leading 1-0 against Twente, courtesy of a Jordan Henderson header, PSV temporarily slipped to second place and their rivals from Amsterdam climbed to the top.

However, that lasted for only six minutes as De Jong restored the advantage for Peter Bosz's PSV when he netted from a Noa Lang cross.

The destination of the title was put beyond doubt with six minutes left as Malik Tillman found a third, sparking scenes of joy on the pitch and among away supporters in the stands.

De Jong said: "In the first half, there was nothing wrong. Then it becomes 1-1 and you think, 'It won't be one of those days, will it?'.

"We were playing well, but you still have to score that goal.

"I have never experienced this before. There was a lot of joy because we didn't dare to dream of this any more. It turns out that hunting is sometimes easier."

While the PSV camp celebrated back-to-back titles, the mood at the Johan Cruyff Arena was grim as Ajax's hopes of a first title since 2021-22 were dashed despite a 2-0 victory against Twente.

Former Burnley and Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst scored Ajax's second in the 90th minute, but by then it was clear it would not be sufficient for Francesco Farioli's side, who were widely seen as champions-elect heading into the final weeks of the season.

Nine clear, nine back - and two pivotal late goals

Ivan Perisic's ninth league goal of the season gave PSV the lead at Sparta Rotterdam

It has been a season full of twists and turns for PSV.

Bosz's side were nine points clear of Ajax in December, but a poor run of results coincided with a resurgent run from the Amsterdam side, erasing PSV's advantage at the top and taking their own commanding lead.

But momentum shifted dramatically as Ajax capitulated when they approached the final line, gifting top spot to their rivals on the penultimate matchday by conceding an equaliser in the ninth minute of stoppage time against 10-man Groningen.

PSV won seven games in a row after the defeat to Ajax in March - including a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory on 11 May at Feyenoord where Lang scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time.

The title is welcome redemption for Bosz's side who exited the Champions League with a 9-3 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the last 16 and lost in the Dutch Cup semi-finals to Go Ahead Eagles.