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

An eye-catching upturn in form has seen the hosts climb to fifth spot in the Eredivisie table after a dismal start to the term, while their visitors currently occupy the relegation playoff place in the midst of a winless run.

Match preview

Ajax return to the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday with the aim of continuing a dramatic upturn in form in the Eredivisie after enduring a dismal start to the new campaign.

After missing out on retaining the Dutch top-flight title last time around, the Amsterdam giants set out to bounce back this term, but any major hopes were all but put to bed inside the opening eight games as they managed just five points between mid-August and the end of October, culminating in five straight defeats across which they conceded 18 goals.

That run spelled the end for manager Maurice Steijn, and following the appointment of John van 't Schip with the side sat around the relegation places, de Godenzonen have enjoyed an eye-catching run to quickly scale the division, going unbeaten in nine Eredivisie games under his tutelage and managing seven victories along the way.

The capital outfit rounded off 2023 with four straight league victories over Vitesse, NEC, RKC Waalwijk and Sparta Rotterdam and a disappointing 1-1 draw with PEC Zwolle, alongside a KNVB Cup exit at the hands of Heracles, before returning to top-flight action for the first time this year away at Go Ahead Eagles last Sunday and bouncing back to winning ways in a hard-fought 3-2 triumph, going ahead twice through Brian Brobbey and Benjamin Tahirovic and being pegged back before Devyne Rensch eventually netted the decisive goal.

Such a result saw Ajax strengthen their position in fifth spot in the Eredivisie table after their quick climb, but with fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar and third-placed FC Twente five and nine points better off respectively and the top two all but out of reach at this stage, they will know they cannot afford to let up and will bid to continue their fine run in search of salvaging a top-four finish under van 't Schip.

In their way stand an RKC Waalwijk side who are desperate for a victory in their own fight at the other end of the table, with the visitors currently sat in the relegation playoff place at the halfway stage of the season.

After an impressive campaign culminated in a ninth-placed finish last time around, Sunday's visitors have failed to hit the same heights so far this campaign, managing just 14 points from their first 17 outings and winning just four of those alongside 11 defeats.

The most recent of their four triumphs came against PEC Zwolle in late November, but Henk Fraser's side have since added just two points to their tally in five further attempts, firstly drawing with Excelsior and suffering defeats to Ajax and Fortuna Sittard, with Brobbey, Steven Berghuis and Steven Bergwijn firing Sunday's hosts to a narrow 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture before Christmas.

RKC were then able to round off the calendar year with a 1-1 draw away at Utrecht, but they were unable to build on that on their return to action last weekend, hosting Heracles and succumbing to a 2-1 defeat as Mario Engels netted the decisive goal for the visitors on the hour mark after Michiel Kramer had drawn them level.

Now sitting three points adrift of automatic safety while only leading Vitesse in the bottom two by two points, RKC Waalwijk will be desperate to end their rut and cut the gap to safety but face an unenviable test in their bid to return to winning ways.

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Ajax form (all competitions):

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:

W

D

L

L

D

L

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Team News

Ajax continue to deal with several injury issues, as Branco van den Boomen, Sivert Mannsverk and Mika Godts are all set to remain confined to the treatment room.

John van 't Schip will likely deploy an unchanged starting XI from their triumph away at Go Ahead Eagles last time out in a 4-3-3 shape, with Brian Brobbey again set to lead the line despite competition from Chuba Akpom.

The lone striker will have support from wingers Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis, while Kristian Hlynsson, Benjamin Tahirovic and Kenneth Taylor should continue in a midfield trio.

RKC Waalwijk should come into Sunday's trip with a clean bill of health, aside from the ongoing absence of Nouri El Harmazi, and Henk Fraser may opt to line his side up in a more defensive shape for a tough trip to Ajax.

Veteran Michiel Kramer remains a key man up front, and he should operate as a lone striker again after netting his fifth goal of the season in their defeat to Heracles last time out, with Denilho Cleonise and Filip Stevanovic again likely to offer support from the wings.

Raz Meir may come in from the start to bolster the defence, with Shawn Adewoye and Dario Van den Buijs bound to continue in the middle, while Godfried Roemeratoe and Chris Lokesa should again partner up in midfield.

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Hlynsson, Tahirovic, Taylor; Bergwijn, Brobbey, Berghuis

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Meir, Lelieveld, Adewoye, Van Den Buijs, Meijers; Cleonise, Roemeratoe, Lokesa, Stevanovic; Kramer

We say: Ajax 3-0 RKC Waalwijk

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