Eredivisie Matchday 13 Review

The Eredivisie returned after the final international break of 2025 for matchday 13, with PSV and Feyenoord battling it out at the top of the table. Eyes were also on Heracles to see if they could continue their mini revival under Hendrie Kreuzen.

Saturday’s action: Excelsior shock Ajax and Heracles march on

NAC Breda were undone by a solitary Gus Til goal as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to PSV. The striker, who is eyeing up a place at the 2026 World Cup, continued his fine form as he grabbed his ninth Eredivisie goal of the campaign. PSV had to ride their luck somewhat, with NAC Breda putting plenty of pressure on in the second half but failing to convert any of their 16 shots on goal. Carl Hoefkens’ side have won just one of their last five, but have added some reinforcements with former Fulham man Denis Odoi signing this week.

Ajax are still looking for their first win under interim head coach Fred Grim. The side were shocked at home by Excelsior as they fell to another defeat. The Rotterdam side’s 23-year-old midfielder Noah Naujoks was the hero as he scored either side of half-time. Kasper Dolberg scored shortly after coming off the bench to grab his first goal since returning to Ajax in the summer. However, Ajax were unable to come back and suffered an embarrassing defeat at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

FC Volendam left it late to grab a draw at home against FC Twente. Daan Rots gave the away side the lead almost immediately after half-time, and FC Twente will feel they should have been further ahead by then. Despite having 18 shots on goal and ending with an xG of 2.61, they came away with just a point as the veteran forward Robert Mühren’s second goal of the season earned Volendam a crucial point.

After a terrible start t otheir season, Heracles cannot stop winning and scoring under Kreuzen. This time it was defender Damon Mirani who helped himself to a brace, while Jizz Hornkamp and Luka Kulenovic were predictably the other two scorers. Go Ahead Eagles were in the game, and even ahead at half-time thanks to goals from Mathis Suray and Milan Smit. However, Dean James’ red card at 3-2 proved to be too much of a hill for the Eagles to overcome.

Sparta Rotterdam welcome Fortuna Sittard to Het Kasteel on Saturday evening. Joshua Kitolano gave the home side the lead just before half-time, but their dominance of possession did not result in all three points. Fortuna Sittard’s Kaj Sierhuis appears to be returning to some level of the player we saw a few seasons ago, and just before the hour mark the 27-year-old grabbed his second goal in three games to earn the away side a point.

Sundays action: Blow for Feyenoord and an impressive win for Heerenveen

SC Heerenveen beat high flying AZ Alkmaar to open Sunday’s slate of games. Luuk Brouwers had an excellent game, providing an assist for Dylan Vente’s opener and grabbing the third goal for his side in the 79th minute. Joris van Overeem had given Rohin Veldman’s side a 2-0 lead prior to Brouwers goal, although hero of Irelands World Cup qualification challenge Troy Parrott had halved the deficit in the 75th minute. AZ were lucky that one of the sides they are chasing in the top two also dropped points in the Eredivisie this weekend.

Feyenoord have lost their way after a fantastic start to the season. The side suffered a shock home defeat in the Eredivisie this weekend against NEC Nijmegen. Leo Sauer had equalised for the home side just before half-time after Bryan Linssen had opened the scoring for NEC. Bart Nieuwkoop put Feyenoord in control, but things fell apart after Kento Shiogai was introduced in the 68th minute. Noe Lebreton equalised a minute later, before Shiogai grabbed a late double to earn NEC a huge 4-2 victory.

Telstar saw three points escape their grasp late on at home to FC Utrecht. After a goalless first half, the home side took the lead through Soufiane Hetli. Utrecht were inefficient in front of goal until late on, when Can Bozgogan scored minutes after coming on. The result means Telstar have only won two games this season.

Late goals were also the order of the day in the final match of round 13. PEC Zwolle looked on course for their fourth Eredivisie win of the season after goals from Thijs Oosting and Sherel Floranus had given them a 2-1 lead. Groningen had grabbed one from Thom van Bergen, and it was the 21-year-old who came up with the goods late on. In the 90th minute van Bergen scored his third of the season to secure a point for Groningen, a deserved result having dominated following a red card to PEC’s Anselmo Garcia MacNulty.

League Table