Ajax vs NEC Match Analysis & Prediction
18/02/2024 4:30 pm
Ajax will be looking for three points that will keep them in contention for a third-placed finish in the Eredivisie standings when they host NEC Nijmegen on Sunday evening.
At a time when the Dutch giants occupy fifth position in the league standings, the visitors are seventh, just six points adrift of the upcoming opponents.
Having suffered a 3-2 defeat to Heerenveen at the weekend, Ajax faced a similarly disappointing result at home to Bodo-Glimt in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-32 tie on Thursday.
However, facing a two-goal deficit, Ajax scored twice in added-on time to secure a share of the spoils ahead of the second leg in Norway, keeping their continental ambitions alive.
Ajax have now conceded in 10 successive European matches, while John v’ant Schip has now witnesses his side keep a clean sheet in 13 games across all competitions.
On the flip side, goals have been scored in each of those matches, yet Ajax have reached a point where they are nine points adrift of third place in the Eredivisie with the sixth-worst defensive record in the division.
If Ajax have been a surprise package for negative reasons, NEC’s performances have created the opposite feeling with a recent 10-game unbeaten run having been put together.
Three of those matches have come in the KNVB Beker, setting up a semi-final tie with second-tier Cambuur as they aim to reach the final, where they would face either Feyenoord or Groningen.
However, for Rogier Meijer, priority remains the league for the time being, NEC having impressively lost just six of their 21 league matches this season.
A seven-game unbeaten run in the league included four points being taken from AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, but NEC lost 2-0 at struggling RKC Waalwijk last time out.
Ajax vs. NEC Head to head
In the 50 previous meetings between these two teams, Ajax have claimed 37 victories while NEC have won three, and they have drawn in 10. NEC have scored 32 goals and conceded 132 in the process.
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14/08/2021Ajax5NEC0Eredivisie
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23/04/2022NEC0Ajax1Eredivisie
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08/01/2023NEC1Ajax1Eredivisie
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05/03/2023Ajax1NEC0Eredivisie
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03/12/2023NEC1Ajax2Eredivisie
Ajax Team News
V’ant Schip must decide whether to stick with the 4-4-2 formation having handed Chuba Akpom a rare start against Bodo-Glimt.
Carlos Forbs is an alternative should he prefer to switch to three creative players, while midfielder Branco van den Boomen has put himself into contention with a goal from the substitutes’ bench.
Ajax's Last 5 Matches
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21/01/2024Ajax4RKC Waalwijk1Eredivisie
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27/01/2024Heracles2Ajax4Eredivisie
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03/02/2024Ajax1PSV1Eredivisie
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11/02/2024Heerenveen3Ajax2Eredivisie
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15/02/2024Ajax2Bodo/Glimt2Europa Conference League
NEC Team News
Meijer may be against over-reacting to the defeat at RKC Waalwijk, where the goals that they conceded both came by the 22nd minute.
While Rober and Sylla Sow will be considered for opportunities in the final third, Meijer may go with an unchanged starting lineup.
NEC's Last 5 Matches
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20/01/2024NEC1Twente0Eredivisie
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28/01/2024Go Ahead Eagles2NEC2Eredivisie
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03/02/2024NEC3Heracles1Eredivisie
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06/02/2024NEC3ADO Den Haag0KNVB Beker
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09/02/2024RKC Waalwijk2NEC0Eredivisie
Ajax vs. NEC: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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