Both looking to continue their excellent winning runs, Feyenoord and Ajax will lock horns for De Klassieker at Stadion Feijenoord in the Eredivisie on Wednesday night.
The Pride of the South recorded a victory on the road at FC Utrecht on the weekend, whilst De Godenzonen managed a narrow success over Willem II on home soil.
Match preview
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Since the sobering four-goal defeat to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on September 19, Feyenoord have managed a seven-game unbeaten run across the Eredivisie and Champions League, putting a gloss on a patchy start to the season for their high standards.
The Pride of the South made it five wins on the bounce on Sunday afternoon, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from Julian Carranza and Quinten Timber were enough to secure a two-goal victory over Utrecht, who are currently above Wednesday's hosts in the Eredivisie standings.
Alongside flawless leaders PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord are one of two sides in the division who are yet to taste defeat this season, however four draws from nine matches means that Brian Priske's men are only fourth in the Eredivisie table, 11 points off the summit of the standings.
The Pride of the South have played fewer home matches than any other club in the league so far this season but have collected a respectable tally of seven points from three games, including maximum points during their most recent match at Stadion Feijenoord versus Twente on October 6.
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After a disastrous fifth-placed finish during the 2023-24 term - missing out on Champions League football as a result - Ajax are on a mission to return to the upper echelons of the Dutch game, with Wednesday's visitors making a stellar start to their 2024-25 Eredivisie campaign.
Following the concession of three goals to top-flight minnows Heracles on October 20, De Godenzonen have found a defensive solidity over the past week, keeping back-to-back clean sheets in victories over Qarabag FK and Willem II on the continental and domestic scene respectively.
Despite dominating possession and creating a host of clear-cut chances in Amsterdam on the weekend, Ajax had to rely on a sixth-minute penalty from former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen for three points, with the 31-year-old netting his fourth goal in six Eredivisie appearances this term.
Unbeaten in six top-flight matches and collecting 13 points from their last five games, De Godenzonen have moved up to third in the Eredivisie rankings ahead of a daunting trip to Feyenoord, above their fourth-placed hosts on goal difference and three points behind Utrecht in second.
Team News
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Feyenoord are battling on without the services of striker Santiago Gimenez, who is expected back in the middle of December from a hip injury.
Providing 16 assists across all competitions last season, Calvin Stengs is a massive miss for the Pride of the South currently due to a knee issue.
Jordan Lotomba is also taking up a bed in the hosts' medical room, with the full-back targeting a return to first-team action in early November.
Emerging as a first-team regular for Ajax in recent years, Sivert Mannsverk is spending a spell on the sidelines because of an ankle injury.
De Godenzonen have a number of fitness doubts ahead of Wednesday night's trip to Feyenoord, including Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Gaston Avila.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Bueno; Hwang, Timber, Osman, Milambo, Paixao; Carranza
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Rugani, Baas, Kaplan; Gaaei, Tahirovic, Van den Boomen, Klaassen, Wijndal; Traore, Brobbey
We say: Feyenoord 1-1 Ajax
Both in the midst of impressive winning runs, we are expecting a hotly-contested affair between Feyenoord and Ajax on Wednesday night in the Eredivisie.
The Pride of the South possess home advantage but are without star striker Gimenez, so we feel that the visitors should be good enough for a point.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
