Feyenoord, Ajax and FC Twente win big, FC Emmen holds NEC to 0-0

We’ll call it a day!

Leaders Feyenoord can get ready for Coolsingel with eight points ahead and six games to go.

Behind them it is still wildly exciting. PSV won 4-0 against Excelsior on Saturday and Ajax did the same today against Fortuna Sittard. Ajax and PSV are both on 59 points, but the Amsterdammers have a better goal difference (+6 compared to PSV).

AZ seems to have dropped out of the battle for second place.

Next week we report back to European soccer!

FEY-RKC | 69′ Goal RKC Waalwijk

RKC Waalwijk does something back. Lobete is sent away and deftly slides the ball over goalkeeper Wellenreuther. The honorary goal is a fact.

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 5-1

FEY-RKC | 62′ Feyenoord goal

It’s a night of celebration at De Kuip. Giménez was not yet on the scoring sheet, but changes that. After excellent preparatory work by Kökcü, the striker is able to finish in a controlled manner.

Immediately after the goal, Slot brings his captain Kökcü and Hartman to the side. Thursday Feyenoord play AS Roma in the quarterfinals of the Europa League, so some extra rest is welcome.

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 5-0

FEY-RKC | 58′ ‘We will be champions’

‘Feyenoord, Feyenoord, we are going to be champions,’ the crowd chanted en masse for minutes at De Kuip. And prove The Legion wrong: a win would put the difference on Ajax and PSV at eight points with six games to go.

FEY-RKC | 53′ Feyenoord goal

Feyenoord continued merrily scoring goals after halftime. The man in form Giménez with a wonderful heel to Paixao, who is able to make his second of the evening.

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 4-0

Feyenoord kicked off for the second half. The Rotterdammers seem headed for a simple win or can RKC rise from the dead?

RKC coach Joseph Oosting is clearly not satisfied and applies a triple change. Feyenoord are not changing for the time being.

FEY-RKC | 38′ Goal Feyenoord

Things are going really fast at De Kuip now. Hartman gets the goal, as Giménez just can’t touch the defender’s cross.

Three goals within ten minutes, RKC is the hare….

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 3-0

FEY-RKC | 31′ Feyenoord goal

There’s the next goal. Giménez first pokes at Vaessen, but Paixao can easily tap in the rebound.

Feyenoord on roses at De Kuip.

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 2-0

FEY-RKC | 29′ Goal Feyenoord!

The frontrunner takes the lead. First Wieffer hit the post, but moments later Feyenoord hit the target. Wieffer’s cross was tapped in by the hapless Oukili. RKC own goal.

Feyenoord-RKC Waalwijk 1-0

‘Use your mind and support your club’

Feyenoord’s footballers walked onto the pitch with special shirts for the home game against RKC Waalwijk. With the message “use your mind and support your club,” they emphasized that no more players after Davy Klaassen should fall victim to aggressive fans.

The text refers to the call John de Wolf made Wednesday during the KNVB Cup semifinal. The assistant coach grabbed the microphone after the Ajax midfielder suffered a head injury when he was hit by an object thrown at him by a spectator. He addressed the crowd sternly. The cup match was suspended for just under half an hour but also resumed. Klaassen was soon unable to continue.

The KNVB introduced tighter measures a day after the incident that require referees to stop matches earlier after disturbances with spectators. Feyenoord took no more chances and played the remaining home matches with nets around the entire pitch along De Kuip.

FEY-RKC | 20′ Best chance for RKC

RKC Waalwijk is mostly holding back at De Kuip for now, but does get the biggest chance of the match. From a corner kick Anita could print, but his shot was cleared off the line by Hartman.

FEY-RKC | Feyenoord put pressure in opening stages

Feyenoord are constantly on the attack in the opening stages. The Rotterdammers create a number of dangerous moments, but really big chances are yet to come.

RKC Waalwijk kicked off against leaders Feyenoord at De Kuip, which sees Geertruida return to the team.

FEY-RKC | The lineups

Lutsharel Geertruida is back at Feyenoord after sustaining an injury at Oranje. As right back, Geertruida displaces Marcus Pedersen from the starting lineup.

At RKC, captain Michiel Kramer is suspended. His place up front is taken over by Spaniard Julen Lobete.

AJA-FOR | 90+3′ Finished

It was apples-to-apples for Ajax, which was not in trouble for a moment against Fortuna. Steven Berghuis was the big standout with two goals and two assists.

Ajax passes PSV again on the league table and is second. The deficit on Feyenoord is five points, the leaders play at 8 p.m. against RKC Waalwijk.

Once again the assist is from Berghuis, who is involved in all the goals today. Taylor shoots hard and makes the score a little prettier for the supreme home team.

AJA-FOR | 67′ Berghuis into the side netting

Steven Berghuis obviously lurks for his hat trick and is close with a shot into the short corner. The net moves, but some supporters cheer for nothing. The ball only goes into the side netting.

Fortuna shows itself again and almost hits it. Siovas heads the ball onto the crossbar, Rulli would have had no chance.

With this interval, Ajax can of course allow themselves some frivolities. In a tangle situation in the penalty area, right back Jorge Sánchez gets the ball while standing with his back to the goal. The Mexican throws out a spectacular overhead kick, which does not even go that far wide.

Berghuis gives the assist this time. After a short-taken corner kick, he serves his near-name-mate Steven Bergwijn, who makes it 3-0 with a hard shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Ajax – Fortuna Sittard 3-0

Football is being played again in the Arena. Will Ajax work on the goal difference, or will Fortuna manage to make it exciting?

Gladon and Navarro join Fortuna, Vita and Erdogan make way. At Ajax a new left back: Hato comes in for Baas.

AJA-FOR | 45+3′ Rest, Berghuis on hat-trick hunt?

Ajax deservedly leads 2-0 against Fortuna at half-time. Although the Limburgers came out threatening from time to time, they also regularly dropped a stitch at the back.

Steven Berghuis is the star player, who after half-time has the opportunity to become the third player to score a hat-trick for both Feyenoord and Ajax. Only Henk Groot (13 for Ajax, 3 for Feyenoord) and Ruud Geels (11 for Ajax, 2 for Feyenoord) ever did that for him.

AJA-FOR | 38′ Fortuna dangerous

After ball loss by Taylor, Fortuna comes out dangerously. It’s three attackers against three defenders, but the pass to Yilmaz is just too hard. Ajax goalkeeper Rulli comes out of his goal well, more than a corner kick does not result for Fortuna.

Ajax’s attacks keep coming and Berghuis makes his second. At a cross from Tadic, Fortuna defender Vita (him again) completely mows over the ball. Berghuis suddenly finds himself in possession of the ball and doesn’t think twice. He blasts the ball into the roof of the goal.

Can Ajax start working on the goal difference? A win will put the Amsterdammers level in points with PSV, which has a slightly lower goal average.

Ajax – Fortuna Sittard 2-0

AJA-FOR | 21′ Off the line!

Fortuna defender Vita fouls, after which Ajax should score. Tadic circles goalkeeper Pandur and has the ball in front of him, but Guth kicks his effort off the line.

AJA-FOR | 10′ Fortuna Resists

The early 1-0 prompts Fortuna to step it up. First, Noslin comes just too late to finish off a cross. And moments later Yilmaz shoots just wide via an Ajax defender. To the anger of the Limburgers, they do not get a corner kick.

Ajax dominates in the opening stages and it is soon on target. Right-winger Berghuis comes in and takes a shot with the left. His shot into the far corner goes in via the inside of the post.

Ajax – Fortuna Sittard 1-0

In the Johan Cruijff Arena the warm-up is in full swing, in fifteen minutes the kickoff will be at Ajax-Fortuna.

Earlier this season, the two teams faced each other in the first round of play. The Limburgers led at halftime, but Ajax drew 2-3.

EMM-NEC | 90+6′ Finished

It remained 0-0 in Emmen, and the home club should not grumble about that, as NEC had by far the most chances.

It is already the fourteenth draw for the team from Nijmegen this season. The premier league record therefore remains in sight. Sparta (1974/75), PEC Zwolle (1978/79) and FC Twente (1988/89) once drew 18 times in one season.

Lasse Schöne takes a dropped ball almost perfectly on the boot. The ball sails towards the cross, but – pats – the sound can be heard throughout the stadium. The outside of the post prevents a late goal for NEC.

EMM-NEC | 86′ No goal of the year

Robust Emmen midfielder Veendorp makes an attempt at goal of the year. With a pirouette, he gets rid of an NEC player, then lashes out from about 45 yards.

Unfortunately, the ball goes far wide.

EMM-NEC | 74′ Is Cillessen still awake?

Finally Emmen comes out again. Bouchouari shows a fine cross and Romeny heads towards goal, but NEC goalkeeper Cillessen grabs the ball firmly.

Moments later, Cillessen has to tap a shot from Antonisse over. Will Emmen go on the offensive?

The ball just won’t go in for NEC. Substitute Musaba plays off two Emmen defenders at his first ball contact and serves Dimata, but the Belgian striker shoots wide in promising position.

EMM-NEC | Waiting for the 0-1

Emmen barely gets out of their own half after halftime. NEC is waiting for a goal at this stage. Dimata is close, but his volley goes just wide of the short corner.

NEC starts the second half strongly. Mattsson has a chance, but his effort is blocked by an Emmen defender. Moments later, Dimata wastes a dangerous moment by standing on the ball.

AJA-FOR | The lineups

Florian Grillitsch is the most notable name in the Ajax starting lineup. The Austrian midfielder plays because Kudus suffered a hamstring injury in the cup match against Feyenoord.

Grillitsch has been at the kickoff of a premier league game once before: Ajax – Go Ahead (1-1) in October.

At Fortuna Sittard, Burak Yilmaz is simply in the starting lineup. The Turkish striker seemed to announce his farewell on Instagram last week after the 3-1 win over FC Groningen. The 37-year-old Yilmaz was whistled at by his own crowd and appeared to be owed salary from Fortuna.

On the stroke of halftime, another good chance for NEC. Dimata comes just too late to slide in a free kick from Schöne.

NEC was the dominant team in the first half. But Emmen also managed to become dangerous on the counter regularly.

It’s quite a nice game in Emmen for now, although you do have the idea that the game has yet to loosen up.

EMM-NEC | 41′ NEC players angry with each other

Tavsan uses his speed and trumps Emmen defender Veldmate. It produces a sudden chance for NEC. Tavsan decides to shoot himself and pops rakishly over.

To the anger of striker Dimata, who would have liked to have gotten the ball. The two attackers exchange unfriendly words and face each other. Other NEC players intervene.

EMM-NEC | 31′ All hands on deck

For a moment it is all hands on deck in the back at Emmen. A cross from Cisokko creates a lot of threat. Dimata headed the ball towards goal, where Mattsson managed to touch it. Emmen goalkeeper Van der Hart tapped the ball away.

Moments later Dimata shoots at goal in a full penalty area. An Emmen defender blocks the ball. NEC claims a penalty kick for hands, but the replay shows that it is unjustified.

Things are going nicely up and down between Emmen and NEC, although the home team gets the better chances for now.

Now a high cross goes towards Te Wierik, who heads the ball in front of goal. Romeny comes just too late to fire at Cillessen’s goal.

Schöne just gives the ball away to Emmen, which comes out dangerously. Zivkovic’s cross is a fraction too hard for Antonisse. The young attacker still touches the ball, but Cillessen can save.

EMM-NEC | 6′ Goal Emmen disallowed

Zivkovic shoots a goal, but isn’t he offside? After the players are cheered out, the inexorable verdict of VAR follows: the striker was indeed half a meter offside before sliding the ball past Cillessen. It remains 0-0.

Emmen goalkeeper Van der Hart lets a shot by Mattsson slip. The ball glides agonizingly slowly towards goal, but hits the post.

We switch to the Oude Meerdijk, where FC Emmen is about to take on NEC.

They are numbers 15 and 10 for the premier league. Emmen can use the points well in the fight against relegation.

Twente wins easily 4-0 from Cambuur. In the first half, the Frisians did not come close for a moment, after halftime it was a bit more balanced.

The highlight was the appearance of Wout Brama, who played his 300th game for Twente. The midfielder was presented with a bouquet of flowers by his club.

TWE-CAM | 77′ Goal Twente!

It becomes 4-0 for Twente. After a one-two with Van Wolfswinkel, Smal gives his third assist of the match. The left back serves right back Brenet, who has the ball in his hands after this fine Twente attack.

FC Twente – SC Cambuur 4-0

Due to a hefty injury, he played his last premier league game in October, but there is Wout Brama again. The now 36-year-old midfielder (already quite a bit grayer at the temples) was allowed to fill in and played his 300th game for FC Twente.

Zerrouki goes out for Brama, who made his debut at Twente eighteen years ago.

TWE-CAM | 61′ What a miss!

That should have been the 4-0 for Twente. Cerny offered Steijn a chance, but the midfielder shot high over from close range.

It is finally another good Twente attack, because after halftime Cambuur shows a completely different face than in the first half. Twente goalkeeper Unnerstall actually had to make his first two saves of the afternoon moments before.

TWE-CAM | 52′ Twente replies

Twente shows that it also wants to score some goals after halftime. Van Wolfswinkel gets a great shooting chance, but Van Kaam manages to block the ball on behalf of Cambuur.

TWE-CAM | 48′ First attempt Cambuur

Cambuur register the first goal attempt of the afternoon. A distance shot by Foor bumps a meter or two wide of Unnerstall’s goal.

It is not very threatening yet, but at least the Frisians show their intentions.

TWE-CAM | 46′ Four substitutions

Cambuur coach Ultee might have preferred to change eleven men, but unfortunately for him that is not allowed. As a result, ‘only’ four substitutions at halftime.

Breij, Schmidt, Paulissen and Johnsen stayed behind in the locker room. Uldrikis, Jacobs, Balk and Van Wermeskerken were allowed to show they could do better.

The statistics of the first half

Ball possession: Twente 65% – Cambuur 35%

Goal attempts: Twente 19 – Cambuur 0

Corners: Twente 6 – Cambuur 0

Needless to say, Twente has no child to the weak Cambuur. The straggler has no business in the premier league this way.

FC Twente is the first team this season with at least 19 goal attempts in the first half. Ajax (17 against Excelsior) and sc Heerenveen (17 against RKC Waalwijk) had the highest number of shots until today.

Misidjan may have missed a life-size chance, but the left-winger is one of the best players on the pitch. He spins poor Cambuur defender Schmidt all over the place.

Now Misidjan sets up an attack that culminates in a shooting chance for Steijn. The midfielder places the ball just wide of the goal.

TWE-CAM | 35′ All 3-0

There’s the 3-0 right there. Left back Smal gives his second assist of the afternoon. End of the attack this time is Sem Steijn, who shoots the third behind poor Ruiter with a nick.

Cambuur plays the 300th match in the premier league in club history, but it will be one to quickly forget.

FC Twente – SC Cambuur 3-0

Twente’s hunger is not yet satisfied. A corner kick allows Pröpper to head in. With an excellent reflex, Cambuur goalkeeper Ruiter prevents a third goal.

The Frisians go like meek lambs to the slaughter today. If Twente wants to, it can book a monster victory.

TWE-CAM | 27′ Goal Twente!

And there is the 2-0 for Twente, which has no child to the weak Cambuur. With a wonderful combination via Smal, Vlap gets the ball in the penalty area. He takes the ball well and shoots it in.

It was also a very long time ago for Vlap to score. His last goal was no less than 352 days ago. On April 22, 2022, Vlap scored against Sparta (2-0 win). Since then, the attacking midfielder played 29 premier league matches without scoring,

TWE-CAM | 19′ How to get it in!

That seemed like a piece of cake, but not on Easter Sunday. A distance shot by Vlap requires Cambuur goalkeeper Ruiter to release the ball. The rebound falls to Misidjan, who has the ball in front of an almost empty goal.

But he shoots it wide!

TWE-CAM | 12′ Goal Twente!

It couldn’t fail to happen, FC Twente is up 1-0. The home team gets all the time and space to combine in the penalty area. Cerny serves Van Wolfswinkel and the striker slides the ball easily into the far corner with his inside foot.

Van Wolfswinkel was dry for nine duels until today. His last goal was 791 minutes ago, more than 13 hours.

FC Twente – SC Cambuur 1-0

FC Twente broke through on the right flank and almost immediately hit the target. Brenet crossed the ball and Vlap was able to take advantage, but shot wide via a Cambuur defender.

Real player Valverde hits opponent near players’ bus

Remarkable news from Spain, where Real Madrid player Federico Valverde punched an opponent. The happened after last night’s league match Real Madrid – Villarreal (2-3).

The 24-year-old Uruguayan allegedly waited for Villarreal’s Alex Baena at the players’ bus and slapped him. The two got into an altercation during the match, as in the earlier match between the two teams.

Baena is considering pressing charges. “Very happy with the impressive victory in Santiago Bernabéu, but at the same time very sad because of the aggression I faced after the match,” Baena wrote on Twitter. “I am also surprised by what is being said about me.”

According to Spanish media, Baena allegedly told Valverde earlier this year, “cry now that your son is not going to be born.” At the time, there were problems with Valverde’s wife’s pregnancy. Baena denies that he intended to provoke the Uruguayan with this. “It is totally untrue that I said anything about that,” he said.