Ajax 1-3 PSV: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Eredivisie Matchday 5 · Saturday 5 September 2026 · Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam · referee S. van der Eijk · full time
Full time: Ajax 1-3 PSV
Ajax 1-3 PSV: PSV took the points in Eredivisie Matchday 5 on Saturday 5 September 2026 at Johan Cruijff Arena. The goals: Ricardo Pepi 5', Tolu Arokodare 23', Lutsharel Geertruida 45+1', Esmir Bajraktarevic 90+2'.
How PSV won it
PSV struck first through Ricardo Pepi in the 5th minute, set up by Ruben van Bommel. Ajax levelled at 1-1 in the 23rd minute through Tolu Arokodare. Lutsharel Geertruida made it 1-2 to PSV in the 45th minute (+1). Esmir Bajraktarevic made it 1-3 to PSV in the 90th minute (+2), set up by Sven Mijnans.
It was 1-2 at half-time.
The referee, S. van der Eijk, showed 8 yellow cards: 3 to Ajax and 5 to PSV.
Ajax: M. Sánchez Muñoz, 4-3-3 · PSV: P. Bosz, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 2.41 for Ajax and 1.97 for PSV.
Ajax scored about 1.4 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.
PSV made more of their chances than the xG suggests, by about 1.0 goals.
Ajax had 6 shots on target, PSV 5.
PSV's goalkeeper made 5 saves.
Ajax had 53% of the ball, but PSV took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Ajax came into it with 12 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 2.7 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 2.24 expected goals for and 1.44 against, and had won 58% of their matches.
PSV came into it with 12 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 3.3 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 2.41 expected goals for and 1.23 against, and had won 67% of their matches.
Ajax vs PSV: the match in numbers
| Ajax | Match statistics | PSV |
|---|---|---|
| 53% | Ball possession | 47% |
| 2.41 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.97 |
| 19 | Total shots | 13 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 4 | Big chances | 3 |
| 517 | Total passes | 445 |
| 83% | Pass accuracy | 86% |
| 1 | Corners | 1 |
| 6 | Fouls | 13 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 24 | Tackles | 26 |
| 2 | Saves | 5 |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 6 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV), rated 7.7 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Ajax
- Jorthy Mokio 7.3
- Tolu Arokodare 7.3 1 goal
- Julian Brandt 6.9
- Oscar Gloukh 6.8
- Sofyan Amrabat 6.8
PSV
- Lutsharel Geertruida 7.7 1 goal
- Sergiño Dest 7.5
- Matej Kovar 7.4
- Ricardo Pepi 7.1 1 goal
- Guus Til 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Davy Klaassen at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Ajax: Ajax vs ADO Den Haag Sunday 22 November 2026 · Eredivisie
- PSV: NEC Nijmegen vs PSV Saturday 21 November 2026 · Eredivisie
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Ajax vs PSV
What was the score in Ajax vs PSV?
Ajax 1-3 PSV (half-time 1-2), Eredivisie, Saturday 5 September 2026.
Who scored in Ajax vs PSV?
Ricardo Pepi 5', Tolu Arokodare 23', Lutsharel Geertruida 45+1', Esmir Bajraktarevic 90+2'.
Did Moneyball predict Ajax vs PSV correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Ajax vs PSV?
Lutsharel Geertruida, rated 7.7 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Ajax vs PSV?
S. van der Eijk.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball is a football statistics site. No model predicts football reliably: every figure is an estimate.