Matchday 32 in the Eredivisie will draw to a close at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, where league leaders Ajax will be facing off against NEC Nijmegen on Sunday afternoon.
With a four-point lead and three games left to go, Ajax could be crowned league champions this weekend if they win this match and PSV lose to Feyenoord earlier in the day.
Match preview
© Imago
After two fairly poor seasons by their lofty standards, Francesco Farioli has guided Ajax back to the summit of the Dutch top flight, and they are now on the verge of claiming a record-extending 29th Eredivisie title.
De Godenzonen have been making hard work of it, though, having only managed to take a point from their last two games, which has seen their nine-point lead trimmed to just four heading into the final three games of the season.
Last weekend, Ajax managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Sparta Rotterdam in stoppage time, a result that marked the first time they had failed to win two consecutive league games since the start of last December.
However, while the hosts would have certainly wanted all three points in that match, the draw kept their unbeaten record at the Johan Cruijff ArenA intact, and they are massive favourites to bounce back to winning ways this weekend.
Ajax won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Goffertstadion last December and have not lost to this opponent in their last 29 encounters across all competitions, dating all the way back to November 2005.
© Imago
Meanwhile, after finishing in the top six with 53 points last season, NEC have endured a major fall from grace this term, currently on 34 points and down in 13th in the league standings.
The Nijmegen club played out a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against relegation candidates Willem II last week, and have now won just two of their last 12 games since mid-January (W2 D5 L5).
The major contributing factor to Rogier Meijer's side's dip this season has been a drop-off in their attacking output, having only scored 43 goals to date, while they had netted 61 at this same point last term.
The visitors' away record also suggests that they are likely to struggle to take anything from this match, as they have only won one of their last six league matches on the road and failed to score in four of their last five.
Team News
© Imago
Ajax will be without at least three players through injury this week, including Youri Baas (groin), Branco van den Boomen (muscle) and long-term absentee Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen (ankle).
However, the hosts will be able to welcome Jordan Henderson back to the squad this week, with the Englishman having now served his one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
NEC will be bolstered by the return of Vito van Crooij, who was forced to sit out the match against Willem II last week due to a suspension, and he will likely slot straight back into midfield for this match.
The visitors will be missing two players for this trip to Amsterdam, with Kas De Wit and Bram Nuytinck both currently sidelined through injury, while Dirk Proper is a major doubt after being withdrawn with a knock in the first half last week.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Lima; Gaaei, Sutalo, Rugani, Hato; Berghuis, Klaassen, Taylor; Edvardsen, Brobbey, Traore
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Lyratzis, Marquez, Verdonk, Ouwejan; Pereira, Larsen; Hansen, Van Crooij, Sano; Ogawa
We say: Ajax 3-1 NEC
While Ajax have only taken a point from their last two games, they are still unbeaten at home this season, and we feel they will take a step closer to securing the league title by winning this match fairly comfortably.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
