Ajax and Feyenoord play out stalemate to further boost leaders PSV

A rare goalless draw between Ajax and Feyenoord on Sunday was a setback for both the main pursuers of the leaders PSV Eindhoven at the head of the Dutch league.

Both sides needed a victory to put just the slightest pressure on the runaway leaders PSV, who now have a six-point advantage over the champions Ajax and 14 points over third-placed Feyenoord.

It was only the second time the “Klassieker” had ended goalless. The previous time was in 1978.

But it was Feyenoord who would have been more disappointed at failing to win, having dominated proceedings at the home of the team who are seeking a record fifth successive title, particularly in the first half when Colin Kazim-Richards shot wide and then Jean-Paul Boëtius had his shot cleared off the line by the Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik.

Boëthius, with a header across goal that struck his team-mate Kazim Richards, and Jens Toorstra, with a header straight at the keeper Jasper Cillessen, also went close for Feyenoord in the second half while Lasse Schöne might have scored for the hosts in injury-time but Ajax never looked deserving of three points against a tenacious visiting side.