PSV storm Amsterdam and hand Míchel's Ajax first defeat of the season (1-3)

Míchel and Ter Stegen's Ajax suffered their first setback of the campaign on Saturday, losing 1-3 at the Johan Cruyff Arena to reigning Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven. Peter Bosz's side claimed the 'De Topper' and moved provisionally top of the table with 13 points from five matches, pending AZ Alkmaar's visit to Heerenveen on Sunday. The win strengthens PSV's bid to retain the title and comes at an ideal time ahead of Champions League meetings with Real Madrid and Atlético.

• First defeat of the 2024-25 season for Míchel and Ter Stegen's Ajax: 1-3 at home.
• Pepi opened the scoring after five minutes and Geertruida made it 1-2 on the stroke of half-time.
• PSV go top of the Eredivisie with 13 points from five games.
• Bajraktarevic sealed the result in added time after a brawl stopped play for almost five minutes.
• Tsygankov made his Ajax debut as the hosts chased an equaliser in the second half.

Early PSV goal and Ajax's response before the break

The visitors struck very early. In the fifth minute, a quick transition ended with a Perisic cross that Ruben van Bommel headed on and Pepi, also with his head, sent into the net. Ajax responded midway through the first half through an individual effort from Arokodare, who created the equaliser almost on his own to level the match.

The goal lifted the home side, who came close to making it 2-1 in a rapid counter-attack. Brandt found himself one-on-one with Kovar but could not beat him, and Berghuis wasted the rebound with the goal almost empty. That miss proved costly just before the interval: Geertruida, making his first start, caught an unstoppable volley from a corner to score a stunning goal and put PSV 1-2 up.

Tsygankov makes his Ajax debut in the second half

After the break, the match remained open with chances at both ends. Former Girona player Tsygankov came on to make his debut for Ajax and gave the Dutch attack a fresh dimension as the hosts pushed for an equaliser against a PSV side that stayed solid and also carried threat on the break.

The brawl and Bajraktarevic's late 1-3

Play was stopped for almost five minutes after a mass confrontation sparked by a late challenge from Ruben van Bommel on Bouwman, who had to leave the pitch. With the game already broken up, Bajraktarevic popped up in stoppage time to finish it off with the definitive 1-3 and hand PSV a hugely valuable away win in Amsterdam.

What this result means for the Eredivisie and the Champions League

PSV, coached by Peter Bosz, move to the top of the standings with 13 points after five rounds. The margin is slim: AZ Alkmaar could reclaim first place if they beat Heerenveen on Sunday. Meanwhile, Míchel's Ajax lose their unbeaten record and slip back in a league start that had been flawless.

The win also carries European weight. PSV showed composure against a direct rival before facing the league phase of the new Champions League, where they will meet Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Those fixtures will test the ceiling of a team that has already warned in the Johan Cruyff Arena that it wants to win the Dutch title again.

Ajax 1-3 PSV: Frequently asked questions