Go Ahead Eaglesvs.Ajax

Match preview

Due to their involvement in the Europa League qualifiers, Ajax have not been in league action since suffering a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted NAC Breda on August 18.

Having had their round-five clash against FC Utrecht postponed, Francesco Farioli's men made those extra days of rest count as they ran out emphatic 5-0 winners over Fortuna Sittard at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Wednesday.

Goals from Kenneth Taylor and Bertrand Traore put De Godenzonen in the driving seat, and there was only one winner from there as Youri Baas, Devyne Rensch and Chuba Akpom all joined in on the act after half time.

Albeit with two games in hand, Ajax are seventh in the Eredivisie table having picked up six points from a possible nine this term, while also conceding the second-fewest goals behind only AZ Alkmaar.

The Amsterdam-based outfit kick off proceedings in Europe's secondary club competition with a clash against Besiktas next Thursday, but their immediate focus will be on securing all three points against an opposing side who have managed just one victory from the previous 22 editions of this fixture.

After a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in their final outing before the hiatus, Go Ahead Eagles secured a much-needed 2-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam to get themselves back on track.

Jakob Breum and Victor Edvardsen struck in either half to set Paul Simonis's men on their way to all three points, but Shunsuke Mito grabbed one back in the 80th minute to set up a frenetic finale.

After losing both of their opening two matches to Fortuna Sittard and Willem II, the pride of the IJssel Kowet have now won two of their subsequent three outings, which bodes well for them ahead of a tough run of matches.

Go Ahead Eagles will take on Ajax, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar—all of whom they failed to beat across a combined six games last season—in three of their next five matches either side of the October international break.

Go Ahead Eagles Eredivisie form:

Go Ahead Eagles form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

L

W

Ajax Eredivisie form:

Ajax form (all competitions):

W

D

L

W

W

W

Team News

Dutchman Steven Berghuis is still unavailable for Ajax through a muscle problem and is joined on the sidelines by compatriot Amourricho van Axel Dongen.

This weekend's visitors will also be without the services of Gaston Avila and Sivert Mannsverk, who are currently nursing knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Chuba Akpom will be expected to shake off competition from Wout Weghorst and retain his place in the XI having netted four goals in his last two games as a starter.

Oliver Edvardsen has not featured for Go Ahead Eagles since May, but the forward is drawing increasingly closer to returning to action from a foot injury.

Twenty-eight-year-old Finn Stokkers missed his side's win over Sparta last time out with a knock and remains a doubt for Saturday's affair.

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

Plogmann; Adelgaard, Kramer, Nauber, Deijl; Linthorst, Llansana; Antman, Breum, Adekanye; Edvardsen

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Pasveer; Rensch, Rugani, Baas, Hato; Taylor, Henderson, Klaassen; Traore, Akpom, Godts

We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 Ajax

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