Ajax vs Heerenveen Match Analysis & Prediction
11/08/2024 5:45 pm
Dutch powerhouses Ajax will get their Eredivisie campaign up and running when they take on Heerenveen in Sunday’s encounter at Johan Cruijff Arena.
Ajax will know the importance of beginning the new Eredivisie campaign with a positive run of form after kicking off last season with one win in their first eight league matches.
The record Eredivisie winners managed to salvage a fifth-placed finish and Europa League qualification, but they eventually fell considerably below their lofty high standards.
Francesco Farioli has been tasked with leading the rebuild at the Amsterdam Arena, and the former Nice manager has made an encouraging start to his tenure, overseeing a 4-1 aggregate victory over Vojvodina in the second round of Europa League qualifying.
Farioli then saw his side record a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg of the third-round qualifying tie against Panathinaikos, with Steven Berghuis scoring the decisive goal in Thursday’s trip to Greece.
Ajax will now turn their attention to Sunday’s fixture, and they will fancy their chances of securing all three points after winning 13 of their previous 15 home league matches against Heerenveen.
Meanwhile, after posting back-to-back eighth-placed finishes, Heerenveen would have been slightly disappointed to end the 2023-24 campaign in 11th position.
Heerenveen will be targeting improved fortunes this season as they head into the new campaign under the tutelage of former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.
The 41-year-old has taken on his first senior coaching role after spending time as manager of Feyenoord’s Under-18 side as well as working with the first team under Arne Slot, who has since left De Kuip to take over the reins at Liverpool.
Van Persie has been presented with a tough test for his first competitive game as Heerenveen manager, especially as he only won two of his 11 matches against Ajax as a player.
However, Heerenveen will be able to take confidence from their most recent encounter with Ajax in February when they produced a free-scoring display to secure a stunning 3-2 home win.
Ajax vs. Heerenveen Head to head
In the previous 71 meetings between these two teams, Ajax have claimed 50 victories while Heerenveen have won 11, and they have drawn in 10. Heerenveen have scored 86 goals and conceded 204 in the process.
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11/05/2022Ajax5Heerenveen0Eredivisie
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10/09/2022Ajax5Heerenveen0Eredivisie
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12/03/2023Heerenveen2Ajax4Eredivisie
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05/11/2023Ajax4Heerenveen1Eredivisie
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11/02/2024Heerenveen3Ajax2Eredivisie
Ajax Team News
Ajax are expected to be without the services of Christian Rasmussen and Owen Wijndal, while Gaston Avila and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are both doubts for the league opener.
Farioli could be tempted to rotate his squad, with Branco van den Boomen, Mika Godts, Bertrand Traore and Brian Brobbey among those who may be given starting opportunities this weekend.
Ajax's Last 5 Matches
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18/07/2024Ajax2Al Wasl1Club Friendlies
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19/07/2024Ajax1Olympiakos0Club Friendlies
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25/07/2024Ajax1Vojvodina0Europa League
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01/08/2024Vojvodina1Ajax3Europa League
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08/08/2024Panathinaikos0Ajax1Europa League
Heerenveen Team News
Heerenveen are expected to line up with Andries Noppert in goal, while Sam Kersten and Pawel Bochniewicz are set to operate as the two centre-backs.
Ion Nicolaescu scored five goals in 19 league appearances last season, and he is set to be given the responsiblity of leading the line here.
Heerenveen's Last 5 Matches
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12/05/2024Heerenveen1Vitesse3Eredivisie
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19/05/2024Sparta Rotterdam2Heerenveen1Eredivisie
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09/07/2024Heerenveen4Dordrecht1Club Friendlies
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26/07/2024Heerenveen5Rayo Vallecano0Club Friendlies
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03/08/2024Middlesbrough1Heerenveen0Club Friendlies
Ajax vs. Heerenveen: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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