Amsterdam was poised for a celebration. The air, thick with anticipation, hinted at Ajax securing their 37th Eredivisie title, a testament to their dominance on the Dutch football stage. But football, as it often does, had other plans. A late, heart-stopping equalizer against Groningen not only snatched victory from Ajax’s grasp but also handed the Eredivisie advantage to PSV on the season’s penultimate matchday. The 2-2 draw, a result that reverberated through the Johan Cruyff Arena, has cast a long shadow over Ajax’s **title** aspirations. The dramatic turn of events has fans and pundits alike dissecting every moment, every missed opportunity that led to this point, as reported across Dutch news outlets.

The match against Groningen unfolded like a cruel drama. Anton Gaaei initially put Ajax ahead, a moment of hope quickly tempered by Thom van Bergen’s equalizer. Wout Weghorst then restored Ajax’s lead, seemingly putting them back on track. Groningen’s Luciano Valente received a red card for a foul on Jordan Henderson, further tilting the scales in Ajax’s favor. Yet, in the dying embers of the game, the ninth minute of stoppage time, Thijmen Blokzijl found the back of the net, stunning the home crowd and leveling the score. As Ajax’s boss Francesco Farioli lamented, “It’s never easy to speak after conceding a last-minute equaliser… It’s not over yet. We’ve got one more match to play let’s go… A goal in the final minutes has brought us joy earlier this season, but today it brings tears… We gave it our all, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Still, football teaches us that anything can happen.”

The draw against Groningen served as the climax of what can only be described as an alarming form collapse for Ajax. Just a few weeks prior, in mid-April, they held a commanding nine-point lead, appearing certain to clinch the **title**. Needing a mere six points from their final five games, the Amsterdam giants seemed unstoppable. However, a series of disastrous results unraveled their campaign. A heavy 4-0 defeat to Utrecht was the first sign of trouble, followed by a disappointing draw against Sparta Rotterdam. The home loss to NEC, a 3-0 humiliation, further exposed the team’s vulnerabilities. This slump stands in stark contrast to their earlier form, where they had secured 13 wins and a draw in the preceding 14 matches. The question on everyone’s minds: what went wrong?

Ajax’s sudden stumble evokes memories of other monumental collapses in football history. In the 2023 Brazilian league, Botafogo squandered a 13-point lead after 19 games, ultimately finishing fifth. In the Premier League, Arsenal surrendered an eight-point advantage to Manchester City in the 2022-23 season, while Newcastle United famously lost a 12-point lead to Manchester United in 1995-96. Inter Milan relinquished a six-point lead in Serie A 2001-02, finishing third, and Real Madrid saw a 12-point lead evaporate in La Liga 2003-04, ending the season in fourth place. The Icelandic League in 2003 even witnessed Throttur being relegated after leading at the halfway point, offering a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football.

The Eredivisie **title** race now hinges on the final round of matches. PSV currently holds a slender one-point lead over Ajax. PSV will visit Sparta Rotterdam, while Ajax will host Twente. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 13:30 BST on Sunday. The scenarios are simple: if PSV wins, they secure the title. If PSV draws or loses, Ajax can win the title with a victory over Twente. The tension is palpable as fans brace themselves for a nail-biting conclusion to the season.

Ajax’s late-season woes have thrust their Eredivisie **title** hopes into grave uncertainty. The dramatic draw against Groningen underscored their recent struggles to close out games. While history serves as a reminder that substantial leads can be overturned, Ajax will need to exhibit a dominant performance against Twente while hoping for a slip-up from PSV to ultimately secure the championship. The fate of the Eredivisie **title** now hangs precariously in the balance, dependent on the events of the final matchday.