The Dutch Eredivisie started off with a bang! Every match had at least three goals and there were some surprises. Title contenders PSV and Feyenoord started with small victories, but Heracles upset Ajax with 2-1. Outsiders like FC Utrecht and Vitesse began with strong wins, just as the promoted VVV-Venlo, who beat Sparta with only 34% ball possession.
Goal of the Week
FC Twente did not score any goal in the final five pre-season matches. So, if you score in the first match of the season against the defending champion, it has to be a beauty. A few minutes before the break Fredrik Jensen scores the equalizer from outside the penalty box with a volley. Pure class.
Feyenoord - FC Twente: ⚽️ Goal Jensen 1-1. Link to video by @DutchGoalsAMore
Honouring Nouri
For your information: The 20-year old Abdelhak Nouri of Ajax collapsed during a friendly against Werder Bremen in Austria. After minutes resusticating he was brought to the hospital, where he was kept in coma. It turns out he has terminal brain damage and will never play football again. He is still being held in coma.
There were a lot of tributes to the Dutch midfielder, mostly referring to his jersey number: 34.
- During Heracles Almelo - Ajax there was a minute of applause
- Zakaria El Azzouzi - former team mate in Ajax youth - honours Nouri after he scored
- Tarik Tissoudali (VVV-Venlo) shows Nouri's numbers while celebrating
Maradona visits PSV - AZ
Maradona is in the Netherlands and visited PSV - AZ on Saturday. The Argentinian was in a good mood. Newcomer Hirving Lozano made his debute as a starter and immediately showed his potential. In a few matches he will be the crowd favorite and Maradona is already a supporter of the young Mexican. View the video in the link for some actions of Lozano and Maradona's reaction.
Horror injury Stengs
2017/2018 was supposed to become his season, but it might already be over for Calvin Stengs. The knee of the 18-year old midfielder 'went' the wrong direction in a duel with PSV-defender Arias. For those of you with a bad stomach, do not watch this link.
Sánchez on his way out?
Ajax-defender Davinson Sánchez was left out of the team. Manager Keizer asked for full focus, but Sánchez had a transfer in his mind. Dutch and English press say that Tottenham Hotspur wants to buy the Colombian for € 40 million. Ajax refused that offer, but it will be hard to stop the transfer. Reports say that Tottenham is willing to increase its initial bid to € 50 million, while Chelsea en Real Madrid also appear to be interested.
