📊 Form Guide
Ajax LLWDLL
Ajax will be looking to improve on their last outing here after a 2-1 Eredivisie defeat in their last game at the hands of FC Utrecht.
In that game, Ajax managed 69% possession and 10 shots on goal with 4 of them on target. The scorer for Ajax was Mika Godts (56'). FC Utrecht had 16 shots on goal with 6 on target. Matisse Didden (45') and Sébastien Haller (54') scored for FC Utrecht.
It’s been all too rare in recent games that Ajax have kept a clean sheet. The facts show that Ajax have seen their defence breached in 6 of their previous 6 matches, letting in 15 goals along the way.
Their previous form shows that Ajax:
- have not been beaten in the league by Excelsior in their previous 19 games. It's quite some record.
- have not beaten Excelsior in their previous 2 matches in the league.
- haven’t won at home in the past 2 league games.
Excelsior LWLLDL
After tasting defeat last time out to Heracles Almelo in Eredivisie action, Excelsior will be hoping to turn things around here.
In that match, Excelsior had 46% possession and 12 shots on goal with 5 on target. The only player on the scoresheet for Excelsior was Noah Naujoks (8'). For their opponents, Heracles Almelo got 10 shots on goal with 5 of them on target. Walid Ould-Chikh (60') and Luka Kulenović (79') scored for Heracles Almelo.
The numbers tell their own story, and Excelsior have been scored against in 5 of their last 6 games, seeing opposing sides hit 9 goals in total. In defence, Excelsior seem to have a bit of a soft underbelly. That sort of pattern might not be sustained into this next game, however.
Coming into this clash, Excelsior are without an away win for the past 3 league games.
👥 Head to head
Looking over past results between these clubs stretching back to 11/11/2018 shows that these encounters have not been fruitful for Excelsior. They have not managed to get any victories whatsoever whereas Ajax have been the better of the two, running out winners in 67% of those games played.
There were also goals galore in those games, with 37 in all at an average of 6.17 goals per meeting.
The previous league meeting between the two was Eredivisie match day 31 on 24/04/2024 and the score finished Ajax 2-2 Excelsior.
That day, Ajax managed 57% possession and 8 attempts at goal with 5 of them on target. The scorers were Devyne Rensch (27') and Chuba Akpom (89').
For their opponents, Excelsior had 9 attempts at goal with 4 on target. Julian Baas (38') and Lazaros Lamprou (53') scored.
The referee was Sander van der Eijk.
ℹ️ Team News: Ajax
Steven Berghuis (Groin injury), Branco van den Boomen (Back injury), Wout Weghorst (minor knock) and Owen Wijndal (Muscle injury) won’t be available for Ajax boss John Heitinga.
We think that de Godenzonen may well use the 4-2-3-1 system this time featuring Remko Pasveer, Lucas Rosa, Josip Sutalo, Youri Baas, Gerald Alders, Youri Regeer, Kenneth Taylor, O. Valaker Edvardsen, Oscar Gloukh, Mika Godts and Wouter Weghorst.
🗞️ Team News: Excelsior
Excelsior boss Ruben den Uil has a number of players out of action. Lennard Hartjes (Cruciate ligament tear) and Zach Booth (unknown injury) are those who can’t be considered.
We believe Roodzwarten could decide to play in a 4-3-3 formation by sending out Stijn van Gassel, Ilias Bronkhorst, Rick Meissen, Casper Widell, Nolan Martens, Noah Naujoks, Adam Carlén, Irakli Yegoian, D. Sanches Fernandes, Szymon Włodarczyk and Gyan de Regt.
🔮 Prediction
Ajax can and should see a lot of the ball and convert quite a few goal-scoring opportunities.
In contrast, Excelsior are also probably going to find it difficult to get shooting opportunities but we do think it’s quite likely that they will be scoring.
We’re predicting a 3-1 winning score for Ajax when the full-time whistle blows.