AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax Amsterdam Prediction: Can The Amsterdammers Pull Off Another Taylor-ed Success On Foreign Territory?

AZ Alkmaar will welcome Ajax Amsterdam to the AFAS Stadion in the 23rd round of the Eredivisie. 

AZ Alkmaar will be seeking a second consecutive league win as they go up against a fatigue-ridden Ajax Amsterdam side. Having maintained a five-match unbeaten run against the Amsterdammers, AZ Alkmaar will undoubtedly fancy their chances of securing maximum points in front of their fans.

Let's have a look at the latest Netherlands Eredivisie predictions between AZ Alkmaar vs. Ajax Amsterdam, probable lineups, match facts and betting odds for you to consider!

Note: Odds are subject to change at any time!

AZ Alkmaar

Form: WDLDD

AZ Alkmaar now find themselves trailing FC Twente by a significant eight-point margin in the battle for third place due to their floundering performance in the past few weeks. The Cheeseheads have recorded a single win in their last seven league matches (L3 D3), and such results should have Maarten Martens worried about his team's performance as there is a possibility they might find themselves without European football next season.

In their most recent league fixture, AZ Alkmaar clinched a narrow 2-1 triumph over Fortuna Sittard on the road to reignite their confidence. With this result, they halted a six-match winless run in the league (L3 D3) and will be seeking to make it two wins in a row. Playing at home hasn't been smooth sailing for the Cheeseheads, as they've struggled with inconsistency, winning just one of their last five matches (L3 D1), not to mention they are on a three-match winless run, and their decline in form comes as a surprise considering they were once on a six-match unbeaten run (W5 D1). It's yet to be determined what kind of psychological advantage could benefit the home team in this situation.

Having accumulated 39 points in 22 matches, AZ Alkmaar sits fourth in the Eredivisie standings, three points ahead of their opponents in this impending encounter and four points behind a third-place finish.

Probable Starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Ryan; Sugawara, Goes, Bazoer, Wolfe; Clasie, Belic; Mijnans, De Wit, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

Ajax Amsterdam

Form: DLDWW

Ajax Amsterdam, on the other hand, did justice to their fans last time out as a Kenneth Taylor-ed goal in extra-time saw them defeat Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt 2-1 in the Europa Conference League playoffs, granting them safe passage to the round of 16. This was their first win since 2006 against a Norwegian side.

In their most recent league fixture, they salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw against underdogs NEC Nijmegen at home despite being in the ascendancy for large spells of the game. In light of this result, the Amsterdammers have extended their winless run to three matches (D2 L1) and will seek to get back to winning ways in this fixture. Prior to their 3-2 loss away to Heerenveen, they had won four consecutive matches and will be eager to bounce back as they aim to climb into the top four of the standings.

Having accumulated 36 points in 22 matches played, Ajax Amsterdam sits fifth in the Eredivisie standings, two points ahead of the sixth-placed Go Ahead Eagles and eight points adrift of the fourth-placed FC Twente.

Probable Starting XI

Form: 4-3-3

Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Tahirovic, Taylor, Van den Boomen; Berghuis, Akpom, Forbs

Match Facts

• AZ Alkmaar are currently on a five-match unbeaten run when playing against Ajax Amsterdam in the Eredivisie.
• Ajax Amsterdam have won just one of their last five matches across all competitions.
• AZ Alkmaar averages 2.27 goals per game when playing at home, and Ajax Amsterdam averages 2.18 goals per game when playing away.

Head-To-Head

In the last 63 meetings, AZ Alkmaar have won 15 times, Ajax Amsterdam have won 32 times, and there have been 16 draws, with the goal difference being 128-74 in favor of Ajax Amsterdam.

Expert Betting Tips

Ajax Amsterdam are on a high following their triumph over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League and will want to build up on that momentum to get back to winning ways in the league. However, it won't be a straightforward win considering they've failed to defeat their opponents on five occasions in the league (W3 D2).

Given that fatigue might still be a factor for Ajax Amsterdam in this impending encounter, we still anticipate them to put up a lively fight at the end of the day to avoid picking up an unfavorable outcome. As such, backing both teams to score combined with a total of over 2.5 goals should surface, as this has been the case in four of their last seven meetings.

• Both Teams To Score + Goals - Over 2.5 for 1.83
• Total - Over 3 for 1.87
• Handicap - Ajax Amsterdam (0:1) for 1.76