Preview: Ajax vs. Fortuna Sittard - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are still in the title race, currently sitting in second place, while the visitors are in 11th, three points off the Europa Conference League playoff places.

Match preview

With just seven games left to go in the Eredivisie, there is still an outside chance that Ajax could win the league, but they would have to go on a near-perfect run, given that they trail league-leaders Feyenoord by eight points.

The Sons of the Gods faced Feyenoord in their last match at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, in what is likely to be a real six-pointer in the title race, losing 3-2 after a late strike from Lutsharel Geertruida.

John Heitinga's side have uncharacteristically struggled in home games this season, picking up just 25 points from 13 matches, the sixth-best record in the division, having also lost to fellow title-chasers PSV Eindhoven back in November.

In Ajax's last 12 matches against Sunday's opponents, they have won on 11 occasions, picking up a 3-2 victory away at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion earlier this season, courtesy of goals from Kenneth Taylor, Devyne Rensch and Brian Brobbey.

Last time out, the Sons of the Gods got their revenge on Feyenoord by securing a 2-1 win away in the KVNB Beker semi-final, setting up a clash against PSV in the final at the end of April.

It has been a decent campaign for Fortuna Sittard, given that they only avoided the relegation playoff by one point last season, and they should be in no danger of going down, currently sitting eight points clear of the bottom three.

Fortuna could even make a late push for the Europa Conference League qualification positions, but they do have some very difficult games remaining, taking on fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar at home next week, as well as having to travel to PSV.

Julio Velazquez's side have picked up the majority of their points away from home this season, which may give them some belief heading into a very tricky game this weekend, with their most recent win on the road coming in a 2-1 victory against Utrecht last month.

Recent form has been patchy for Fortunezen, winning two and losing four of their last six games, but they did manage to impress in their most recent fixture, defeating Groningen 3-1 at home, with Inigo Cordoba bagging a brace.

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W

W

W

W

L

D

Ajax form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

D

W

Fortuna Sittard Eredivisie form:

L

L

W

L

L

W

Team News

Ajax have a few injury concerns, although two of them are long-term absentees, with Ahmetcan Kaplan and Christian Rasmussen still unavailable for selection, having missed almost the entire season.

Rensch's thigh issue is a more recent flare-up, and the right-back will not be involved again, after missing the previous three games, so Jorge Sanchez is likely to keep his place in the side.

Brobbey has been the main attacking threat for Heitinga's side this season, scoring 11 goals in 26 games, and he could return to the starting lineup, replacing Steven Bergwijn.

After the impressive 3-1 victory against Groningen last time out, Velazquez is unlikely to make too many changes to his side, with Cordoba almost certain to keep his place on the left of the front three, in a 4-3-3 system.

Striker Paul Gladon could be rewarded with a start, having scored after being brought on as a substitute in the last match, replacing Burak Yilmaz in the starting lineup.

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Sanchez, Timber, Alvarez, Baas; Berghuis, Taylor, Klaassen; Kudus, Brobbey; Tadic

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Pinto, Guth, Siovas, Vita; Erdogan, Ozyakup, Bistrovic; Noslin, Cordoba, Gladon

We say: Ajax 3-0 Fortuna Sittard

Fortuna Sittard's 2022/23 campaign has been very solid, however they have a terrible record against Ajax, having never won a competitive game at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Given the disparity between the two sides in the league table, that record is unlikely to change on Sunday, and it should be a comfortable victory for Heitinga's side.

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