Ajax gave away a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 at home against Utrecht on Wednesday through an own goal from Remko Pasveer. The match was a catch-up game, the original having been postponed in September because of police strike action.

Ajax coach Francesco Farioli said after the game, in which Utrecht dominated the second half, that his team’s “batteries are running down a bit”.

“We have played 25 games this season, 10 more than Utrecht,” he said. “That can create physical and mental problems. And that is particularly the case here, given where the club has come from and the amount we are demanding of the players.”

Ajax are currently second in the Eredivisie with 33 points from 14 games, six points behind league leaders PSV and one point ahead of Utrecht.