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Ajax
Eredivisie | Gameweek 16
Jan 14, 2023 at 8pm UK
Amsterdam Arena
FC Twente logo

Ajax
0 - 0
FC Twente


Tadic (55')
Rensch (35')
FT

Sampsted (13'), van Wolfswinkel (45+6'), Zerrouki (61'), Tzolis (73')

Preview: Ajax vs. FC Twente - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Eredivisie clash between Ajax and FC Twente, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Defending champions Ajax will be seeking to close the gap at the top of the Eredivisie when they host FC Twente at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Saturday.

The hosts could only manage a draw with NEC Nijmegen in their return to league proceedings last weekend, while the visitors ran out 2-0 winners against FC Emmen, so they will be looking to make it back-to-back victories here.


Match preview

Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder on November 1, 2022© Reuters

Ajax's return to Eredivisie action did not go as planned last weekend, as they drew 1-1 with NEC Nijmegen after Davy Klaassen's opener was cancelled out by Landry Dimata's second-half strike.

That result means that Ajax remain in second place in the standings, three points behind league leaders Feyenoord, with a pivotal clash at Feyenoord Stadium on the horizon on January 22.

Despite last weekend's draw, Alfred Schreuder's side do come into this clash fresh off the back of a victory after a comfortable 2-0 win against Den Bosch on Wednesday evening, in the second round of the KNVB-Beker.

Goals from Dusan Tadic and Kenneth Taylor ensured that Ajax advanced to the next round without any problems as their opponents could only muster one shot on target.

Schreuder will believe his team can get a positive result here against an FC Twente side who have performed much better in front of their home fans than they have on the road. In fact, Twente have the best home record in the division, but have only managed to pick up eight points from the seven games they have played away from home.

Ron Jans, now in charge of FC Twente, pictured in September 2019© Reuters

FC Twente's 2023 could not have started any better, picking up two wins from as many games so far.

Last time out, Ron Jans's side enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Telstar in the KNVB-Beker second round, thanks to a brace from Daan Rots and a strike from Virgil Misidjan.

Prior to that, Twente marked their return to league action with a 2-0 triumph against FC Emmen, after Ricky van Wolfswinkel broke the deadlock in the opening five minutes before Michal Sadilek added a second goal in the second half.

Jans's men are now unbeaten in their last six Eredivisie outings, with their last loss being the 2-0 defeat away at Feyenoord back on October 9.

That result ensured that the Tukkers' unbeaten home record remains intact for now, and they currently sit in fourth place in the table, one point behind PSV Eindhoven and their opponents this weekend.

Ajax Eredivisie form:


Ajax form (all competitions):


FC Twente Eredivisie form:

FC Twente form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

Ajax defender Jurrien Timber pictured in October 2022© Reuters

Following the departure of Daley Blind, Owen Wijndal is expected to retain his place at left-back for the hosts, while Brian Brobbey could be handed a starting role after he did not feature in the victory over Den Bosch.

New arrival Geronimo Rulli made his debut in the KNVB-Beker clash, so he could be handed his first league start on Saturday.

Wout Brama is unavailable for Twente due to an ankle injury, while Christos Tzolis remains a doubt as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

The away side are also set to be without the services of Dimitrios Limnios and Joshua Brenet, who are nursing ACL and muscle injuries respectively.

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Wijndal, Bassey, Timber, Sanchez; Taylor, Alvarez, Klaassen; Bergwijn, Brobbey, Tadic

FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Smal, Propper, Hilgers, Everink; Sadilek, Zerrouki; Misidjan, Steijn, Cerny; Van Wolfswinkel


SM words green background

We say: Ajax 2-1 FC Twente

Ajax put five goals past Twente in this fixture last season, but Twente have conceded the fewest goals in the division so far this term with nine, while also keeping the most clean sheets, suggesting that they will be hard to break down this weekend.

However, the hosts have have scored the most goals in the league, so we think they will have the firepower to edge this encounter and claim all three points here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Ajax vs FC Twente

Ajax
78.0%
Draw
12.2%
FC Twente
9.8%
41
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1211014093133
2FC UtrechtUtrecht119112011928
3Ajax1182125111426
4Feyenoord1274128131525
5FC Twente1264224111322
6AZ AlkmaarAZ125252314917
7Fortuna SittardSittard125251316-317
8NECNijmegen125161910916
9Willem II124351312115
10Go Ahead Eagles124351520-515
11NAC BredaNAC Breda125071221-915
12Heerenveen124261323-1014
13Groningen123361219-712
14PEC Zwolle123361422-812
15Heracles123361223-1112
16Sparta RotterdamSparta122551218-611
17Almere CityAlmere City12138627-216
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1211101031-214


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