Feyenoord stay unbeaten and close on AZ

Feyenoord put Utrecht away 5-0 on Sunday 20 September, a result that keeps them unbeaten in the Eredivisie and leaves them second on 17 points.

The numbers behind that position are unusual. Feyenoord have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 0 of 7 matches, and their goal difference of +18 is the best in the division. Nobody else has scored 25.

They sit behind AZ, who lead on 19 points with a goal difference of +12. That is a two-point gap. PSV are third on 16, Twente fourth on the same total, Ajax fifth on 14.

What separates Feyenoord from the chasing group is not the attack alone. It is the 7 goals let in across 7 fixtures — the foundation of that +18 figure. No other side in the top five is close to it.

Form reads WDWWW, with a run of 3W behind them. The blip was the draw at Go Ahead on Sunday 20 September, which ended 1-1. Since then: three wins, no dropped points.

At the other end of the scoring charts, two of their own are level with the leading group. Gjivai Zechiël and Anis Moussa both have 5 goals, the same as Søren Tengstedt of Go Ahead, Milan Zonneveld of Sparta and Artem Stepanov of Utrecht. Five players on 5. No outright leader.

Next comes AZ at home on Saturday 10 October, matchday 8. It is the fixture that matters most right now.

Can anyone slow this down? AZ have the points, but Feyenoord have the goal difference and the longer unbeaten run. The table says second. The numbers say something closer to first.