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Heracles Almelo
Eredivisie | Gameweek 19
Jan 27, 2024 at 8pm UK
Polman Stadion
Ajax

Heracles
2 - 4
Ajax

Hornkamp (12'), Engels (60')
De Keersmaecker (15'), Cestic (90')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Brobbey (16', 57'), Berghuis (55'), Hlynsson (84')
Taylor (81')

Preview: Heracles vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Eredivisie clash between Heracles and Ajax, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aiming to extend their league unbeaten run to 11 matches, Ajax visit Heracles at the Erve Asito on Saturday.

A remarkable surge in form has propelled the visitors to fifth place in the Eredivisie table after a difficult start to the season, while their hosts seek to distance themselves further from the relegation zone.


Match preview

Ajax interim coach John van't Schip on December 14, 2023© Reuters

Heracles rescued a point at the Erve Asito on Saturday evening, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Volendam.

John Lammers's men found themselves behind early on thanks to Lequincio Zeefuik's opener, but Jizz Hornkamp restored parity for the Heraclieden in the second half, securing a hard-fought point.

However, the draw sees Heracles slip to 15th place in the Eredivisie table with 19 points from 18 matches, five points clear of the relegation zone, but the pressure will be increasing as the second half of the season gets underway.

Their next challenge comes in the form of an opponent they have only managed to beat three times in 35 meetings.

On top of that, Saturday's hosts are on a worrying run of five straight home games without a win, while also needing both attacking and defensive improvements, having conceded 14 goals while scoring just three in those games.

Ajax travel to Erve Asito this Saturday, aiming to extend their remarkable resurgence in the Eredivisie after a disastrous start to the season.

Disappointedly missing out on retaining the Dutch title last term, the Amsterdam giants embarked on a redemption mission this campaign. However, hopes were dashed early on as they limped through the opening eight games, mustering a meagre five points between mid-August and October, capped off by a humiliating five-game losing streak conceding 18 goals.

That woeful run proved the final straw for manager Maurice Steijn. With the club hovering just above the relegation zone, the appointment of John van 't Schip sparked a dramatic turnaround. Under his guidance, Sons of the Gods have embarked on a stunning climb up the table, going unbeaten in their last 10 Eredivisie matches and securing eight victories in the process.

Their most recent league outing saw them thrash RKC Waalwijk 4-1, with Brian Brobbey netting a brace, while Kristian Hlynsson and Steven Berghuis also found the back of the net.

This emphatic win consolidated their fifth-place position in the standings with 31 points from 18 games, three and six points adrift of fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar and third-placed FC Twente in the race for European qualification.

John van't Schip will be hoping to build on their impressive form by claiming a fourth consecutive away victory, having failed to win any of their first six games on the road.

Heracles Eredivisie form:


Heracles form (all competitions):


Ajax Eredivisie form:


Ajax form (all competitions):



Team News

Ajax's Brian Brobbey on November 20, 2023© Reuters

Heracles will be without Diego van Oorschot, who remains sidelined with a long-term broken leg injury.

Lasse Wehmeyer, Anas Ouahim, and Nikolai Laursen are also out due to various knocks.

Ajax will miss Gaston Avila, who is ruled out until March with a knee injury and has not been included in a matchday squad since January 14.

Branco van den Boomen, Sivert Mannsverk, Silvano Vos, and Mika Godts are also set to remain absent with injuries.

John van 't Schip is likely to field the same starting XI that secured their victory over Waalwijk last time out in a 4-3-3 formation, with Brobbey spearheading the attack once again.


Heracles possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Willems, Hoogma, Sonnenberg, Bultman, Wieckhoff; Hansson, De Keersmaecker, Vejinovic, Engels; Sankoh

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Hlynsson, Tahirovic, Taylor; Bergwijn, Brobbey, Berghuis



SM words green background

We say: Heracles 0-3 Ajax

Ajax have rekindled their form and seem unstoppable at the moment. They are the clear favourites in this tie and look likely to extend their unbeaten run.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Heracles vs Ajax

Heracles
10.3%
Draw
3.4%
Ajax
86.2%
29
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Brian Brobbey pictured in action for Ajax in December 2020
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Today's games header
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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