Ajax have come under fire for their shaky defence ahead of today's match against Roda JC, having conceded four goals in their opening two games. The Amsterdam side conceded just 20 goals last season to finish second, while scoring a massive 106. Jan Vertonghen, their defensive midfielder, thinks the team's critics should hold fire. "Last year everyone was full of praise, but now, after a few lesser games, the defence has been called the Achilles heel," he said. "It can annoy me."
Tomorrow, Ola Toivonen, who has scored five goals in two games, leads first-place PSV Eindhoven against AZ Alkmaar. PSV could not reproduce their league form in Europe, though. They lost 1-0 to Sibir Novosibirsk in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier, with Maza Rodriguez sent off. AZ's preparations have been hampered by the departure of Moussa Dembele, the striker, to Fulham.
Today Vitesse v Twente Heereveen v NAC Breda Groningen v De Graafschap Ajax v Roda Tomorrow Venlo v Den Haag Heracles v Feyenoord Utrecht v Willem II PSV Eindhoven v Alkmaar
