PSV only managing a draw this past weekend means that Twente and Ajax are now breathing down the table-toppers necks with only three points separating the three sides, and with the season ever-nearing its conclusion it looks like this season's title race will go right down to the wire.
FC Utrecht extended Groningen's losing streak to four games with a 1-0 win on Friday evening, ending their own run of six draws in their last seven games in the process. In a pretty dismal game, that saw both sides booed off at half time, Utrecht grabbed the only goal on the hour as an unmarked Frank Demouge headed home from six yards. Utrecht continued to press but Groningen offered little in the way of attack even after going a goal down and it ended 1-0.
Roda were the only side in the Eredivisie to not have lost at home before last weekend, however an impressive display from AZ Alkmaar saw them leave 2-1 winners on their visit to the Limburg Stadion. There has been little in the way of goals during the first half of Dutch games recently, and this match was no different despite both teams attempts.
Kolbeinn Sigthórsson broke the deadlock not long into the second half as his header found the back of the net to put AZ a goal to the good. However Roda weren't going to let their record go without a fight and equalised through Anouar Hadouir twenty minutes later, only for Alkmaar to go back in front after another two minutes when Maarten Martens strike found the bottom corner to make it 2-1. The home side's hopes of finding an equaliser were ended though when they were reduced to ten men after Pa-Modou Kah saw red.
Excelsior now find themselves seven points adrift of safety as they were hammered 4-1 at Heracles. And it didn't help that the visitors were down to ten men after 23 minutes when Dan Bovenberg was dismissed for his challenge on Kwame Quansah. It was plain sailing for Heracles from then on as goals from Mark Jan Fleddurus, Quansah and Mark Looms in the 32nd, 50th and 62nd minutes put the hosts 3-0 up. Guyon Fernandez clawed back a goal for Excelsior with 15 minutes to go, but Glynor Plet restored his side's three goal cushion in stoppage time.
Vitesse were denied all three points late on by visiting Heerenveen last weekend as they drew 1-1, but they are still unbeaten since the winter break. The home side went ahead just before the break when Marti Riverola headed home Michihiro Yasuda's cross. And it looked like they would hold on to the lead and all three points until the 87th minute when Darryl Janmaat netted to make it 1-1 and earn his team a share of the spoils.
FCTwente and Ajax are now right behind leaders PSV as a late equaliser in Nijmegen meant Fred Rutten's men had to settle for a point in a game that ended 2-2. Leroy George gave NEC a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute, however Balazs Dzsudzsak was on hand three minutes later to make sure things were all square at the interval, bagging his 15th of the season.
Jermain Lens was PSV's biggest threat going forward during the second period, and 63 minutes in he put his side 2-1 ahead, which looked enough to secure all three points. However George turned provider for NEC's second, crossing in for Ramon Zomer to make it 2-2 and to steal a point.
FC Twente subsequently moved to within a point of PSV with a 2-1 win over second-bottom VVV Venlo, but they didn't make it easy on themselves. In fact it was the lowly visitors that struck first, Ferry de Regt taking just three minutes to give Venlo the lead. Wout Brama levelled things up on the half hour mark, but both sides continued to create chances and both looked capable of a winner. It wasn't until the 83rd minute when Twente became the team to so, through an Ola John header gained the perfect result as they continue to try and make it back-to-back titles.
Ajax also made sure they didn't miss the opportunity to gain some ground on PSV as they beat basement side Willem II Tilburg 3-1, however the Amsterdam side were also given an early scare when Tilburg striker Rangelo Janga put his side 1-0 with 19 minutes gone. And it wasn't until after the restart that Ajax mustered an equaliser, Siem De Jong finding the bottom corner with his curled shot.
It looked as if Tilburg would be able to hold out for at least a point, until they were reduced to ten men 17 minutes from time when substitute Denis Halilovic was sent for an early bath. And with ten men Ajax proved too much for the hosts as Jen Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen scored in the last ten minutes to make it 3-1.
Feyenoord continued their recent rejuvenation with a well-earned 2-1 win over NAC Breda. Luc Castaignos fired the home side ahead after 29 minutes, and in a great game that saw chances at either end Breda managed to level things half an hour later thanks to Julian Jenner. However it was Feyenoord, and Stefan de Vrij, who had the last say as de Vrij's goal in the 88th minute earned the Rotterdammers all three points.
Meanwhile, Den Haag could have reclaimed fourth spot with a home win over De Graafschap, but instead they remain fifth after losing 1-0. Rydell Poepon scored the only goal of the game after just ten minutes, his 11th of the campaign, and ensured Graafschap got all three points.