The defending champions maintained a four-point advantage over rivals PSV Eindhoven thanks to a Kolbeinn Sigthorsson strike, and that was followed swiftly by a Tim Gilissen own goal.

Frank de Boer's side will make it three titles in succession for the third time in their history if they can overcome bottom-placed Willem II at the Amsterdam ArenA next Sunday.

Rivals PSV trounced Groningen 5-2 earlier in the day, cutting Ajax's lead to just a point, so the Amsterdam-based club knew victory was crucial at Rat Verlegh Stadion.


And after a goalless first-half, Ajax finally took the lead two minutes into the second through Sigthorsson, who netted his third goal in four matches.

The visitors put the result beyond doubt just five minutes later when Gilissen turned the ball into his own net.

PSV's win was memorable for the victors scoring all five of their goals in the first half, with Jeremain Lens netting twice.

Also on Saturday, Roda JC scored three goals in 27 minutes to beat fellow strugglers RKC Waalwijk 3-1, while ADO Den Haag and VVV-Venlo played out a 1-1 draw.
On Sunday, Feyenoord thumped Heracles 6-0 with John Goossens and Graziano Pelle scoring doubles in the process.

The damage was done in the first half, with the hosts 4-0 up at the break as Pelle ran riot.

Goossens added two assists to his pair of goals in a superb performance.

Other results on Sunday saw five different players score for Twente in their 5-2 win over NEC Nijmegen, while Utrecht triumphed 2-1 at PEC Zwolle and Vitesse beat Willem II 3-1. 

And in the round's first match on Friday, AZ were 4-0 winners at Heerenveen.