Ajax will play their third league game of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season on Wednesday at Johan Cruyff Arena, where they will face Fortuna Sittard.
The home side are currently fourth last in 15th place with three points after just two matchweeks, while the visitors have played four league games and are in seventh place with six points.
Match preview
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Ajax might have hoped for greater consistency after their disastrous 2023-24 campaign in which they finished fifth with 56 points, 35 points behind title-winners PSV Eindhoven.
However, while the hosts won their first league game 1-0 against Heerenveen on August 11, they lost their second match 2-1 against NAC Breda on August 18.
Ajax had 75% possession, produced 16 shots and created three big chances, but they also faced two big chances and were once again defensively vulnerable in their defeat.
To their credit, de Godenzonen's loss against NAC Breda was only their second defeat in their eight competitive matches this season, with the club winning the other six games.
These victories include their two most recent matches, both of which were against Jagiellonia in the Europa League's fourth and final qualifying round.
Manager Francesco Farioli was only appointed in May 2024 and is embarking on his first season in charge, but he already has as many wins in his eight games as Ajax managed in their final 15 matches of the 2023-24 season.
Ajax have been difficult to beat at home for some time considering they have only lost once in their last 15 competitive home fixtures, winning seven and drawing seven times in that period.
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Opponents Fortuna Sittard come into the clash having played two more league games than Ajax, and they were also defeated by NAC Breda in their last league game having lost 1-0 on September 14.
Fortuna boss Danny Buijs will not only be disappointed that his side conceded an 85th-minute winner, but also that his side failed to create a single big chance.
Buijs's team have lost their last two Eredivisie games and cancelled out their good start to the season, when they beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-0 on August 11 and Almere City 3-0 on August 16.
Regardless, the beginning of their 2024-25 campaign is still markedly better than last term's given they lost their first five league games and drew their sixth in 2023-24.
Fortuna's two wins this season are their only victories in their last 12 Eredivisie matches, with the club losing six times and drawing on four occasions in that time.
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Team News
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The hosts will be without Sivert Mannsverk until early October, while Steven Berghuis is expected to be out until later in September.
Ajax also have doubts about the availability of defenders Ahmetcan Kaplan and Gaston Avila, as well as forward Amourricho van Axel-Dongen.
As for the visitors, they have concerns about Alessio da Cruz and Kaj Sierhuis but otherwise have a full squad to choose from.
Fortuna could name Mattijs Branderhorst in goal, and he may be protected by centre-backs Shawn Adewoye and Rodrigo Guth.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Fitz-Jim, Henderson, Taylor; Borges, Akpom, Godts
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; Pinto, Adewoye, Guth, Dijks; Fosso, Loreintz; Halilovic, Bullaude, Peterson; Aiko
We say: Ajax 2-1 Fortuna Sittard
It is too early to tell whether Ajax have left the struggles of last season in the past, but they have produced largely positive results this campaign, and they should come into Wednesday's clash as favourites.
However, given the hosts have already played eight competitive games this season, Fortuna could look to take advantage of any early sluggishness from the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
