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FC Twente logo
Eredivisie | Gameweek 16
Jan 14, 2021 at 7pm UK
De Grolsch Veste
Ajax

FC Twente
1 - 3
Ajax

Pleguezuelo (84')
Rots (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Haller (7'), Huntelaar (90', 90+1')

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

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

Ajax make the trip to FC Twente on Thursday evening looking to record their first Eredivisie victory in three matches.

Meanwhile, the home side welcome the leaders to De Grolsch Veste having recorded three wins from five matches, a run which has kept the club in contention for the top five.


Match preview

Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Given Ajax's recent dominance of the domestic scene, recording two successive draws feels like a considerable setback for everyone associated with the Dutch giants.

However, including the defeat to Twente before Christmas, it leaves Erik ten Hag with genuine questions to answer regarding his side's form.

On the positive side, a stirring comeback which involved new signing Sebastien Haller secured a 2-2 draw with rivals PSV Eindhoven at the weekend.

Nevertheless, the bigger picture shows Ajax conceding seven goals in their last five top flight games when PSV and Feyenoord have been closing the gap at the top.

With Feyenoord to come on Sunday, Ten Hag and his players are aware that they could soon find themselves in third place if they do not improve at the back over their next two matches.

Having only suffered defeat to Twente as recently as December 5, they will also be motivated to ensure that their next opponents do not record a rare double.

Twente have endured an indifferent period since their shock win in Amsterdam, losing home matches to AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Rotterdam and winning on their travels against VVV-Venlo and Emmen.

Ron Jans has been left frustrated by the inconsistencies of a squad who have suggested on occasions that they should be sitting higher than their current sixth position.

They have now gone four matches without recording a home victory in the Eredivisie, a period stretching all the way back to October 31.

FC Twente Eredivisie form: LWLWLW

Ajax Eredivisie form: WLWWDD
Ajax form (all competitions): LWWWDD


Team News

Ron Jans, now in charge of FC Twente, pictured in September 2019© Reuters

Haller is in line to make his first start for Ajax, taking the place of Zakaria Labyad in attack.

With Feyenoord to come three days later, the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Edson Alvarez could be drafted back into the team if Ten Hag rotates his squad.

Having taken the opportunity to rest players during the closing stages of the 4-1 win at Emmen, Jans could opt to select the same starting lineup.

However, Twente top goalscorer Danilo is pushing for a recall, and that could see Luka Ilic drop down to the substitutes' bench.

FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Drommel; Ebuehi, Pleguezuelo, Pierie, Oosterwolde; Roemeratoe, Zerrouki, Bosch; Cerny, Danilo, Menig

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Gravenberch; Antony, Klaassen, Tadic; Haller


SM words green background

We say: FC Twente 1-2 Ajax

While Twente will be confident of extending Ajax's winless streak, they will also be aware that the leaders will be determined to retain hold of first place. With that in mind, we expect the visitors to battle their way to a hard-earned three points at De Grolsch Veste.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win 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.Away Win: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 75.82%. A draw had a probability of 14.4% and a win for FC Twente had a probability of 9.81%.

The most likely scoreline for an Ajax win was 0-2 with a probability of 9.73%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-3 (8.92%) and 1-2 (8.86%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (6.44%), while for a FC Twente win it was 2-1 (2.93%). The actual scoreline of 1-3 was predicted with an 8.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Ajax would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: FC Twente vs Ajax

FC Twente
15.8%
Draw
17.3%
Ajax
66.9%
133
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1312014593636
2FC UtrechtUtrecht12101122121031
3Ajax1292127111629
4Feyenoord1384131131828
5FC Twente1374226121425
6AZ AlkmaarAZ1362525151020
7Go Ahead Eagles135351820-218
8Fortuna SittardSittard135261418-417
9NECNijmegen135172012816
10Willem II134451514116
11NAC BredaNAC Breda135171423-916
12Heerenveen134271326-1314
13Heracles133461425-1113
14PEC Zwolle133371424-1012
15Groningen133371224-1212
16Sparta RotterdamSparta132561320-711
17Almere CityAlmere City13139630-246
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1312101233-215


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