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Ajax
Eredivisie | Gameweek 21
Apr 22, 2021 at 5.45pm UK
Amsterdam Arena
FC Utrecht

Ajax
1 - 1
Utrecht

Alvarez (70')
Kudus (53'), Tagliafico (87')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Gustafson (13' pen.)

Preview: Ajax vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between Ajax and FC Utrecht, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Eredivisie leaders Ajax welcome FC Utrecht to the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Sunday looking for a sixth consecutive league win and a seventh in all competitions.

This is the third meeting between the sides this term, with Ajax having already beaten Sunday's visitors 3-0 in the reverse fixture in November, as well as in a scintillating KNVB-Beker tie three weeks ago, which ended 5-4.


Match preview

Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Ajax ended 2020 with a three-point lead at the top of the table, but five wins out of the last five have seen that cushion extend to seven.

That run becomes more impressive when you consider the fact that it includes a 1-0 win over second-placed PSV Eindhoven, and more recently, the 3-0 demolition of AZ Alkmaar.

Erik ten Hag's men put on another display of their title credentials against AZ on Sunday, cruising to victory at the AFAS Stadion courtesy of goals from Antony Santos, Davy Klaassen and David Neres.

The league leaders have made it a habit of scoring for fun this season, and their most recent addition of three takes them up to 66 in just 20 games, which gives an average of over three goals per game.

Utrecht failed to extend their winning run to four league games, but they were able to steal a point right at the end in a 3-3 draw with PEC Zwolle.

Hidde ter Avest struck in the fifth minute of additional time to maintain his side's unbeaten run, which has seen them pick up 10 of the last 12 points available.

Rene Hake's men are now up to eighth in the Eredivisie table, although making up a nine-point deficit on fifth-placed AZ would be a tough ask, so a return to Europe for the first time in a decade looks highly unlikely.

Trips to the Johan Cruyff ArenA have often not been pleasant for The Domstedelingen, who have lost on five of their last six visits to the capital.

Ajax Eredivisie form: DWWWWW
Ajax form (all competitions): WWWWWW

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form: DLWWWD


Team News

Lisandro Martinez warms up for Ajax on December 9, 2020© Reuters

Nicolas Tagliafico is out with an eye problem so Daley Blind is likely to fill in at left-back, leaving room for Lisandro Martinez to partner Perr Schuurs in the heart of the defence.

Noussair Mazraoui is also ruled out of this one with a minor injury, with 18-year-old Devyne Rensch set to deputize for the Moroccan.

Andre Onana has been banned from footballing activities for a year after testing positive for Furosemide in a drug test that was conducted in October.

Eljero Elia is still unavailable for Utrecht due to a hamstring injury, but he is not far off a return to action.

Emil Bergstrom is also expected to miss the game with a muscle problem which he sustained in December against PSV Eindhoven.

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg; Blind, Martinez, Schuurs, Rensch; Gravenberch, Promes, Klaassen; Tadic, Haller, Antony

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Oelschlagel; Warmerdam, Janssen, St Jago, Ter Avest; Maher, Boussaid, Van Overeem; Ramselaar, Van De Streek, Kerk


SM words green background

We say: Ajax 3-0 FC Utrecht

Ajax simply look far too good for anyone at the moment, and three points against an improved Utrecht side would seem like a mere formality for Erik ten Hag's men.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Ajax win with a probability of 57.85%. A win for FC Utrecht had a probability of 22.12% and a draw had a probability of 20%.

The most likely scoreline for an Ajax win was 2-1 with a probability of 9.42%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (7.1%) and 3-1 (7%). The likeliest FC Utrecht win was 1-2 (5.6%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (8.45%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with an 8.5% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Ajax vs Utrecht

Ajax
85.7%
Draw
8.2%
FC Utrecht
6.1%
49
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Today's games header
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1110013792830
2Ajax108112391425
3FC UtrechtUtrecht108111911825
4Feyenoord1164124121222
5FC Twente116322291321
6AZ AlkmaarAZ1152422121017
7Fortuna SittardSittard115241213-117
8Go Ahead Eagles114341519-415
9NAC BredaNAC Breda115061218-615
10NECNijmegen114161610613
11Willem II113351111012
12Heracles113351222-1012
13Sparta RotterdamSparta112541217-511
14Heerenveen113261223-1111
15Groningen112361119-89
16PEC Zwolle112361121-109
17Almere CityAlmere City11137523-186
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk111191028-184


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