Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Ajax vs. AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 May 2023, 15:45
Ajax host AZ Alkmaar at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday in a potentially pivotal game for both sides.

The two clubs are still chasing the final Champions League spot in the Eredivisie and will need a win to stay in touch.

Match preview

Ajax come into the fixture off the back of a disastrous week though, which has left them staring down the barrel of a trophyless season without Champions League qualification.

They lost second place in the Eredivisie to PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago by losing 3-0 in De Topper, before losing the KNVB Beker final to the same opponents on penalties last weekend.

With AZ to come next, as well as clashes with Twente and Utrecht, Ajax's run in looks much tougher as they try to claw back the three-point gap PSV have opened up in second.

Defeat in this encounter would see them slip back into the Europa Conference League spot too, as AZ are just two points behind them.

Ultimately, their run of seven games without a win in the league either side of the World Cup has had a devastating impact, because despite an upturn since Johnny Heitinga came in as manager, the task has been just too much to recover from.

For the first time since 2008-09, Ajax could realistically finish with fewer than 70 points - the last occasion they finished outside the top two.

A win for Ajax though would almost certainly finish off AZ's league season.

Defeat would leave Pascal Jansen's side five points behind Ajax, and potentially eight behind PSV in the Champions League position.

With a Europa Conference League semi-final tie with West Ham United to come, the prospect of a trophy and a higher level European competition next season may then become the sole focus.

They still need to ensure they keep Sparta Rotterdam at arms length though behind them, to avoid having to play in the Eredivisie's Europa Conference League playoffs.

There would need to be a miraculous finish for Sparta to catch them, as they enter the weekend seven points adrift, but AZ still have to face Ajax and PSV along with the European distraction.

Despite the fairytale run in Europe which has included a win at Lazio and overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Anderlecht in the quarter-finals, AZ's capitulation in the league will be looked back on as disappointing.

They looked the most likely side to finish second behind Feyenoord, but a disastrous three-game run around the international break in March saw them take just one point from games against Twente, Heerenveen and Sparta, as Ajax and PSV took advantage to leapfrog them.

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W

L

D

W

W

L

Ajax form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

L

L

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

W

L

D

L

W

W

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

W

W

Team News

Ajax will monitor the fitness of Mohammed Kudus ahead of this clash, with the Ghanaian doubtful after missing the last four games with a muscular issue.

Devyne Rensch returned after a six-game absence to feature off the bench in the cup final last weekend, and could replace Jorge Sanchez in the starting XI.

Kian Fitz-Jim is out with an ankle injury, while Ahmetcan Kaplan is close to returning after a lengthy layoff.

Vangelis Pavlidis could miss out again for AZ after picking up an injury shortly after his first-half heroics against Anderlecht in Europe.

Losing their top scorer would be a big miss, as they may opt to keep him ready for the clash with West Ham next week.

Jansen could be able to call upon three players who are all due to return from injury in the near future though.

Bruno Martins Indi, who has played just four times this season, could soon return from a hip injury and Dani De Wit may follow suit having not featured since January with a foot injury.

The influential Jesper Karlsson was rushed back too soon from a recent injury and has not played since their first leg loss to Anderlecht, but he could also be back in time for the West Ham clash.

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Rensch, Timber, Alvarez, Hato; Grillitsch, Klaassen, Tadic; Berghuis, Brobbey, Bergwijn

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Sugawara, Beukema, Chatzidiakos, Kerkez; Reijnders, Mijnans, Clasie; Lahdo, Odgaard, Van Brederode

We say: Ajax 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

Ajax will be determined to catch PSV again after a harrowing week at the hands of their rivals and could capitalise on AZ's eye potentially being elsewhere.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.