Prediction: Ajax vs Heerenveen

Verdict: Ajax win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Getting the new Eredivisie campaign underway on Sunday afternoon, Ajax will welcome Heerenveen to Amsterdam.

Ajax

Starting with the hosts, enduring what was a public domestic nightmare last season as they broke a string of unwanted records, Ajax are desperate to find some crucial stability this time around. Nevertheless, despite being forced to settle for a fifth-place finish last year, the Dutch giants do appear to have turned a major corner under the guidance of Francesco Farioli. Picking up an impressive first-leg advantage away at Panathinaikos earlier in the week as they snatched a 1-0 victory on foreign soil, the Amsterdam-based outfit should find the mood in their camp at a recent high. Signing off their summer preparations with four friendly wins on the bounce, the former Nice boss will be calling on his squad to lay down an early marker on Sunday afternoon.

Team News

Heavily linked with a move to French outfit after featuring for Argentina at this summer’s Olympic Games, Ajax will once again be without Gerónimo Rulli this weekend. Arriving from Villarreal on a free transfer this summer, ex-Aston Villa star Bertrand Traore should make a Eredivisie debut in Amsterdam.

Making a brief cameo appearance away in Greece on Thursday night, attacking talisman Brian Brobbey will be handed a full recall here after the Dutch international notched 18 Eredivisie goals last season. Former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson will start in the middle of the park.

Heerenveen

As for the visitors, enduring what was a real Eredivisie nightmare struggle last season, Robin van Persie’s men are desperate to put in a better account of themselves this time around. Eventually limping their way to a bottom-half finish, the former Manchester United striker knows that stability is key going forward. Signing off the 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Sparta Rotterdam back on May 19th, the Super Frisians collected just a single point from any of their final four top-flight appearances. Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny when marking their return from April’s international break with an infamous 8-0 drumming at home against Dutch giants PSV, Heerenveen could also only muster a single win from any of their last 10 Eredivisie showdowns.

Team News

Arriving from Norwegian outfit Sandefjord this summer for a reported fee of €750k, Danilo Al-Saed will make his competitive Heerenveen debut on Sunday afternoon. Watching attacking talisman Osame Sahraoui complete a summer move to French giants Lille last month, 21-year-old Daniel Seland Karlsbakk could be handed the chance to lead van Persie’s attack here.

Heading into their Eredivisie opener this weekend, Heerenveen have reported a clean bill of health. Former Chelsea youngster Charlie Webster should start in the middle of the park and could be joined by summer recruit Amara Conde.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Ajax and Heerenveen last met back on February 11th, Sunday’s guests collected an action-packed 3-2 victory at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.
• Continuing on from their summer preparations, Ajax have won all of their previous seven appearances.
• The former Dutch champions have not suffered a single Eredivisie appearance in Amsterdam since October 2023.
• The Super Frisians could only muster a single victory from any of their final 10 Eredivisie appearances last season.
• Each of the last five meetings between Ajax and Heerenveen have finished with over 4.5 goals.

Conclusion

Putting in a stellar Europa League performance away at Panathinaikos earlier in the week as they snatched a 1-0 victory on foreign soil, Ajax will be looking to extend on their recent flurry here. Continuing to impress since their summer flurry, the Dutch giants will be relishing a return to Eredivisie action on Sunday afternoon. Not suffering a single domestic home defeat in Amsterdam since October 2023, we are backing Farioli’s side to make an early statement this weekend.

Verdict: Ajax win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Olympusbet