Preview: Heerenveen vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the visitors are sitting in fifth position in the table, Heerenveen are down in 13th spot after a prolonged winless streak.

Match preview

When John van't Schip was appointed as interim boss earlier in the campaign, a top-three finish in the Eredivisie appeared to be out of reach given the manner of their disastrous start.

However, Ajax have put together a 12-match undefeated streak in the league, recording nine wins and three draws, and they now sit just six points adrift of third-placed FC Twente.

Furthermore, runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven are now off their schedule for the remainder of the campaign, Ajax having earned a 1-1 draw at home to their rivals last time out.

Failure to keep a clean sheet in their most recent eight top-flight contests will concern Van't Schip, yet this is an Ajax side that have now scored 47 goals in just 20 Eredivisie fixtures.

Four of those strikes came in the reverse fixture against Heerenveen, Ajax prevailing by a 4-1 scoreline on that occasion in November.

To their credit, Heerenveen bounced back from that loss with three successive victories, keeping them on the cusp of battling for the top five.

Since December 7, though, Kees van Wonderen's side have not won a single game, a run that also included defeat at Vitesse in the KNVB-Beker.

As far as the Eredivisie is concerned, just three points have been accumulated from six matches, the Super Frisians now eight points adrift of sixth place.

On a more positive note, entertaining draws have been recorded against AZ Alkmaar and Fortuna Sittard in their last two fixtures to keep the club seven points clear of the bottom three.

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

L

L

D

L

D

D

Heerenveen form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

D

D

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W

D

W

W

W

D

Ajax form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

Barring any injury issues, Van Wonderen may be prepared to select the same Heerenveen XI from the six-goal thriller with Fortuna Sittard.

However, Thom Haye is in contention for a return in midfield ahead of Simon Olsson, while Che Nunnely may be preferred on the right flank.

With Devyne Rensch lasting just 28 minutes against PSV before being withdrawn through injury, Borna Sosa appears likely to deputise at left-back.

The rest of the team could stay the same, Jordan Henderson looking to build on completing 90 minutes on debut versus the frontrunners.

Chuba Akpom appears likely to stay among the replacements, the Englishman having not featured since the middle of January due to illness and staying as an unused substitute last weekend.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Hart; Braude, Van Beek, Bochniewicz, Kohlert; Haye, Van Ottele; Walemark, Brouwers, Sahraoui; Amersfoort

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Ramaj; Gooijer, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Henderson, Taylor; Berghuis, Hlynsson, Bergwijn; Brobbey

We say: Heerenveen 1-3 Ajax

Although Heerenveen have shown some life in recent matches, playing host to Ajax remains one of Dutch football's toughest games. While we expect the home side to get on the scoresheet, the visitors should have too much quality in the final third.

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