Preview: Almere City vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

While the visitors sit in 11th position in the Eredivisie standings, their hosts are just one point ahead in ninth after an excellent start to the campaign.

Match preview

Placed in caretaker charge until the end of the season, John van't Schip knows that he will need to make an impact to retain the reins on a permanent basis.

Home victories over FC Volendam and Heerenveen - six goals being scored in the process - indicated that the Dutch giants were quickly heading in the right direction under their new head coach.

However, Ajax succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Europa League on Thursday, albeit in a game where they would have felt unfortunate to not get on the scoresheet.

Although there were positives that could be taken from the performance in general, Ajax are now at risk of even missing out on third place in their group, which would bring them Europa Conference League football after Christmas.

On the domestic front, a title challenge is out of the question, but Ajax will at least return to the top 10 if they can prevail at the Yanmar Stadion.

Given Almere City's recent form, that is far from a foregone conclusion with the newly-promoted side impressing among the Dutch football elite.

Having failed to win any of their opening six games, Almere City have since gone five matches unbeaten, collecting 11 points during that period.

Wins over FC Utrecht, RKC Waalwijk and Sparta Rotterdam have been complemented by draws against NEC Nijmegen and Go Ahead Eagles.

Alex Pastoor will want to keep his player's feet on the ground, yet there is potential for victory on Sunday to catapult the minnows of the league into seventh heading into the November international break.

Almere City Eredivisie form:

L

W

W

D

D

W

Ajax Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

L

W

W

Ajax form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

W

L

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Team News

Pastoor could look to select the same Almere City starting lineup from the win over Sparta Rotterdam, the 2-1 success their most impressive victory to date.

Yoann Cathline came off the substitutes' bench to set up the second goal, but former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Rajiv van La Parra should keep his spot in attack, partly due to Cathline soon being withdrawn with an injury.

Meanwhile, Van't Schip could revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that proved effective against Heerenveen with the switch to a back three versus Brighton not paying off.

That could see Devyne Rensch start at right-back, while consideration may be given to using Chuba Akpom in a role behind Brian Brobbey.

Youngster Silvano Vos may only be selected as a replacement having being handed a surprise start versus Brighton three days before this contest.

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Van de Kamp, Jacobs, Van Bruggen, Soh, Royo; Resink, Robinet, Koopmeiners; Van La Parra, Hansen

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Martha; Van den Boomen, Taylor; Berghuis, Akpom, Bergwijn; Brobbey

We say: Almere City 1-3 Ajax

Although Ajax are now on the up, they cannot underestimate opponents who are brimming in confidence. As a result, we feel that Ajax will produce one of their most efficient performances of the season to win a game that could move them into the top half of the table.

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