Preview: Ajax vs. RKC Waalwijk - prediction, team news, lineups

De Godenzonen trail league leaders Feyenoord by three points, while Joseph Oosting's side remains closer to the relegation zone than the final European qualification position.

Match preview

Seeking a fourth successive league title, Ajax have handed former player Johnny Heitinga the reins until the end of the season to try and consolidate their position as the most formidable side in Dutch football.

De Godenzonen are in third position in the Eredivisie standings, one point clear of PSV Eindhoven, who are hot on the heels of their fellow Dutch footballing powerhouse.

However, for a club that has been ever-present in the UEFA Champions League for the last five consecutive campaigns, not participating against the best that Europe has to offer will not reflect well with the upper echelons of the Ajax hierarchy.

Heitinga's side are undefeated in their last seven league matches, with only Feyenoord losing fewer games than Ajax across the current 2022-23 Eredivisie campaign.

Unbeaten so far under the former Dutch international, finding the back of the net nine times without a response, the capital-based outfit began life without former manager Alfred Schreuder with a 4-1 victory over Excelsior at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on January 29.

Ajax followed up that win by sweeping aside SC Cambuur 5-0 last Sunday, down in part to braces from Mohammed Kudus and top scorer Brian Brobbey.

With newly-found confidence in their dressing room, Ajax progressed to the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup on Thursday with a 1-0 victory at Twente courtesy of a 70th-minute strike from the aforementioned Kudus.

With 56 goals already registered to their name across the current 2022-23 league campaign, seven clear of PSV's 49, the hosts will surely be confident of adding to that tally this weekend.

Winless at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in the Eredivisie since an emphatic 7-1 victory over Excelsior on October 16, spanning across four matches, Heitinga's newly-inherited side will hope for an upturn in their fortunes in front of their supporters on Sunday.

Situated in ninth position in the standings, RKC Waalwijk are unlikely to be dragged into the heavily-congested relegation battle but equally do not look likely to be challenging for participation on the shores of the continent next season.

Oosting's side have only been victorious in one of their 10 excursions across the 2022-23 campaign, with that solitary victory coming against FC Groningen at the Euroborg Stadion on October 7 last year.

The visitors have registered two victories from their last three league matches, beginning with a 2-0 win over Emmen on January 28 before defeating Go Ahead Eagles by 3-1 on the opening day of February.

Waalwijk, however, could not make it a hat-trick of Eredivisie victories, as they were held to a goalless draw at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion by relegation-threatened Excelsior last weekend.

Oosting's side have registered eight points from their previous four league matches, so they will make the excursion to Dutch capital in the mood of leaving the Johan Cruijff ArenA with more than just a share of the spoils on Sunday.

Ajax Eredivisie form:

D

D

D

D

W

W

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:

D

L

D

W

W

D

Team News

On the back of progressing to the last eight of the cup, Ajax manager Johnny Heitinga is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI.

After scoring the winner against Twente, Mohammed Kudus will again lead the line alongside Dusan Tadic and Steven Bergwijn.

On the back of signing a three-and-half-year contract at the Johan Cruijff ArenA at the start of the January transfer window, Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli will continue in his role as the club's new number one.

Unlike his managerial counterpart, Waalwijk boss Joseph Oosting could contemplate making changes to his side for their footballing excursion to the Dutch capital after their uneventful draw with Excelsior.

Following his season-long loan move from Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen, striker Vicente Besuijen could replace either Julen Lobete or Mats Seuntjens in the visitors' starting lineup.

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Rensch, Alvarez, Timber, Wijndal; Klaasen, Taylor, Berghuis; Kudus, Tadic, Bergwijn

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Lelieveld, Gaari, Adewoye, Nieuwpoort, Lutonda; Bel Hassani, Anita, Clement; Besuijen, Seuntjens

We say: Ajax 3-1 RKC Waalwijk

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