Preview: NEC vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the hosts set out to record a third consecutive league victory and pick up where they left off before the World Cup break.

Match preview

Ajax breezed past the challenge of Telstar in an emphatic 5-1 victory when the sides went head to head at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on December 30.

Davy Klaassen broke the deadlock after 20 minutes before Brian Brobbey's second-half hat-trick and an Olivier Aertssen strike wrapped up the win for Alfred Schreuder's men.

De Godenzonen have now won each of their last two matches since failing to win any of the subsequent four which saw them slip to second place in the Eredivisie table, three points adrift of leaders Feyenoord.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit aiming to snap a four-game losing streak in this fixture by a combined score of 16-1.

Currently with the joint second-best away record in the division, Sunday's visitors set out to record three very crucial points to avoid losing further ground in the title race.

NEC Nijmegen fell to a 3-2 defeat against FC Emmen in a thrilling friendly encounter between the teams at De Oude Meerdijk on December 17.

After going 1-0 and 2-1 down to strikes from Rui-Jorge Mendes and Richairo Zivkovic, Rogier Meijer's managed to hit back on either occasion through Elayis Tavsan and Magnus Mattsson, before Mohamed Bouchouari netted the winner three minutes shy of half time.

Having amassed seven points from their most recent four league outings, the Eniesee now sit ninth in the standings but they remain a considerable way off the final European spot.

With 12 goals scored across their last three home matches, Sunday's hosts will back themselves to keep up their newly-found attacking impetus on home turf.

NEC Eredivisie form:

D

L

D

L

W

W

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W

W

W

L

D

D

Ajax form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

L

W

Team News

Brian Brobbey has scored five times in his last two appearances for Ajax and the Dutchman is in line to handed a starting role this weekend.

Following the departure of Daley Blind, Owen Wijndal is expected to retain his place at left-back with Devyne Rensch featuring on the opposite flank.

New arrival Geronimo Rulli will have to wait a little longer for his first outing with the visitors having only recently joined from Villarreal.

Mathias de Wolf remains without an appearance since April due to a knee injury and the midfielder will not play any part for NEC Nijmegen here.

Since his return to action, 21-year-old Elayis Tavsan boasts two goals in as many outings, making him one to keep an eye on for the home side.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Van Rooy, Marquez, Sandler, El Karouani; Tannane, Proper, Schone; Cissoko, Dimata, Mattsson

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Pasveer; Wijndal, Bassey, Timber, Rensch; Taylor, Alvarez, Berghuis; Bergwijn, Brobbey, Tadic

We say: NEC 1-3 Ajax

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