Ajax will be looking to take a step closer to reclaiming the Eredivisie title this weekend, when they travel to Tilburg to take on Willem II at Koning Willem II Stadion on Sunday.
These two sides are separated by a massive 46 points, with the hosts down in 16th place after 28 matches, while the visitors are leading the league standings.
Match preview
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After a positive start to the season, Willem II looked as though they were on their way to surviving their first season back in the top flight, but they have experienced a major drop-off in 2025, which has tossed their survival hopes into uncertainty.
Since the festive break, Superkruiken have played 11 league games and earned only two points, which sees them currently sitting in the sole relegation spot, just five points above the bottom two teams.
Peter Maes's side suffered a 3-1 defeat on the road to Heerenveen last weekend, which was their sixth loss in a row and the seventh time in the last 10 games that they conceded two or more goals.
However, shipping goals has not been their only issue of late, as they have now only scored six in their last 10 matches - one fewer than they netted in their three preceding top-flight games.
The hosts have also lost each of their last four home games and let in eight goals during that period, while the last time they tasted victory at Koning Willem II Stadion was on December 22 against NEC.
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Meanwhile, Ajax's European dreams may have ended last month against Eintracht Frankfurt, but they are the odds-on favourite to win the domestic league, currently nine points clear of PSV at the top of the standings.
De Godenzonen were given a slight scare last weekend when they went a goal down to NAC Breda inside the opening 10 minutes of their match, but they quickly found their stride and ran out 3-1 winners with Kenneth Taylor, Steven Berghuis and Jorthy Mokio getting on the scoresheet.
With that result, Francesco Farioli's team are now unbeaten in their last 13 matches, 12 of which ended in victory, dating all the way back to the start of December when they lost 2-1 to AZ on the road.
Notably, the visitors have been water-tight in away games recently, keeping clean sheets in each of their last six games on the road, while having scored two or more in seven of their last 10 outings.
Ajax beat this opponent 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Johan Cruijff ArenA in October, which extended their unbeaten run against the Tricolores to five matches dating back to December 2019.
Team News
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Willem II will have to make do without two players this week due to suspension, with Kyan Vaesen still out for the straight red he was shown against Almere City, while Raffael Behounek crossed the yellow card threshold last weekend.
The hosts also have four players sidelined through injury, including Mickael Tirpan, Cisse Sandra, Boris Lambert and long-term absentee Dani Mathieu, who is out for the rest of the season.
Brian Brobbey will be available for the visitors after serving his one-match ban, but Wout Weghorst returned to the bench for Ajax last week and could receive the nod to start this match.
Youri Baas sat out the last match after picking up a groin injury at the end of last month, which should see either Daniele Rugani or Ahmetcan Kaplan join Josip Sutalo in the central defensive pairing this weekend.
Willem II possible starting lineup:
Didillon; St. Jago, Schouten, Pivas, Doodeman, Sigurgeirsson; Bosch, Lachkar, Joosten; Meerveld, Bokila
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Rosa, Sutalo, Rugani, Hato; Taylor, Henderson, Klaassen; Berghuis, Weghorst, Godts
We say: Willem II 0-2 Ajax
Willem II have failed to win any of their last 11 league games, while Ajax are unbeaten in 13, including 12 wins and one draw. The visitors have also won each of their last six away games without conceding a single goal.
Given these sides' records of late, this looks like it should be a straightforward victory for the league leaders.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
