Ajax Amsterdam v FC Twente – Saturday 24th September – Amsterdam Arena (20:45)
The Holland Eredivisie is now into gameweek 7 and all the top title contenders are in the front pack. The top two Dutch sides, Ajax and FC Twente, will come head to head this weekend in a match that will play a role in the title race. Ajax were crowned league champions on the final day of the league last season where they beat Twente to snatch the title from the defending champions.
Ajax Amsterdam came from behind twice to salvage a 2-2 draw at PSV Eindhoven and slip to 3rd in the Dutch league last weekend. The defending champions remain unbeaten after 6 matches, drawing only 2 of those matches. Their magnificent home form has continued from last season where they lost only 2 home matches all season. They have played twice at the Amsterdam Arena so far this season scoring 9 goals and FC Twente will have a tough job of trying to keep their talented attack at bay. Coach Frank De Boer has stated he is happy with the way his team are playing and are happy to have past the transfer window without losing key players, Gregory van der Wiel and Jan Vertonghen, who were pursued by bigger European clubs. South Africa’s Thulani Serero has made some good performances coming off the bench in most of his sides matches so far and the ex Ajax Cape Town player could start this match with the absence of Ajax’s Slovakian winger Miralem Sulejmani, who is sidelined due to injury.
FC Twente took advantage of Ajax dropping points for only the second time this season to move to the top of the Eredivisie standings with a 5-2 demolition of ADO Den Haag. The away team opened the scoring from the penalty spot before the league’s top scorer, Janko ,who has 7 goals levelled for Twente, with the hosts going on to score 4 more times after the break and ADO getting a consolation late on. FC Twente have emerged as one of the best Dutch teams in recent seasons. They are the current holders of KNVB Cup and Johan Cruijff Schaal trophies, and were Eredivisie champions in the 2009–10 season and finished runners-up to Ajax last season after losing on the final match day in this very same fixture. Like Ajax, Twente are unstoppable at home but struggle for consistency away from home. The only time they have dropped points this season was in their 2-1 loss away to Roda JC 2 weeks ago. The last time Twente won at the Amsterdam Arena was way back in 2005 and they have only managed 3 draws in the last 11 travels besides that 1 win.
Home advantage will play a big part in this match and Ajax are expected to have more control of the match. That said go for the home win.
