Ajax are on the verge of sealing the 2020/21 Eredivisie title as they take on FC Emmen at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday.
Ajax are aiming to secure their 35th Eredivisie title when they play hosts to FC Emmen on Sunday. The Dutch giants are currently sitting pretty at the top of the league table with 76 points on the board, 12 ahead of second-placed Feyenoord, with just four matches remaining.
Although the title is pretty much secured even if Ajax lose their last four matches, thanks to a healthy goal difference of +68, Erik ten Hag’s men will be eager to secure a victory to cap off an excellent domestic campaign.
The Dutchman has recently signed a contract extension with Ajax until 2023, so an Eredivisie title could be an ideal way to kickstart the new chapter, although there are still no guarantees over his long-term future in Amsterdam.
For Emmen, it is perhaps a bigger game as they look to avoid the wrath of relegation by delaying Ajax’s inevitable coronation. The minnows are currently 16th in the league table with 24 points on the board.
However, nine of those points have come in the last three matches – making Emmen one of the most in-form teams in the division. An upset over Ajax could be an ideal confidence booster as they look to make a late escape in these closing stages of the campaign.
Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over these two teams ahead of their crucial encounter in the Eredivisie this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Ajax
Ajax aren’t missing too many players aside from Daley Blind, who had picked up an injury during the international break. As such, Erik ten Hag isn’t expected to ring in too many changes from the side that faced AZ Alkmaar last weekend.
Noussair Mazraoui has had a difficult season with injuries, but might be gifted a start on Sunday at right-back, ahead of Devyne Rensch. It could be the only change in an otherwise solid defensive unit featuring the likes of Jurrien Timber, Lisandro Martinez and left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.
The Argentine international is hoping to play a key role in offering creative support for Dusan Tadic in the left-wing slot. These two have combined well, for the most part, this season and could once again cause problems for the Emmen backline.
As for the right hand side, Antony is likely to get the nod ahead of David Neres, even though both the Brazilians can be extremely quiet if Emmen execute their plans well and cut off the supply.
That is where the midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Davy Klaassen and Edson Alvarez could come in handy. Two of these three should operate in a more advanced role, making themselves passing options in between the lines while the Ajax attack should be spearheaded by Sebastien Haller, whose physical and aerial prowess could be useful for crossers like Tadic and Antony.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Stekelenburg; Mazraoui, Timber, Martinez, Tagliafico; Gravenberch, Alvarez, Klaassen; Antony, Haller, Tadic
FC Emmen
FC Emmen head coach Dick Lukkien predominantly uses the 4-2-3-1 formation so he should have no problems mirror Ajax’s setup, with the focus likely to be on cutting down spaces in between the lines.
It remains unlikely that Lukkien would want to make too many changes from the side that secured a 3-1 win over Heracles Almelo. Their key forward Michael de Leeuw is in great form, notably netting a hat-trick in the last game and he will once again spearhead the attack for Emmen this weekend.
In the creative unit, the wide-attacking duo of Kerim Frei and Luka Adzic could be used as potential runners in a counter-attacking system, with the number ten Sergio Pena playing a vital role in offering those balls over the top of Ajax backline.
In the more defensive side of the game, the double-pivot Jari Vlak and Lucas Bernadou have done well in recent weeks. They are set to be tasked with the responsibility of disrupting the flow of the opposition in midfield as well as providing cover for the back-four that will be stretched by Ajax’s marauding full-backs.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verrips; Bijl, Araujo, Veendorp, Cavlan; Vlak, Bernadou; Frei, Pena, Adzic; de Leeuw
Key Stats
- Ajax registered a thumping 5-0 win over FC Emmen, when these two teams last met each other, in the reverse fixture back in late November.
- FC Emmen are unbeaten in the Eredivisie since 20th February. Their last defeat came against RKC Waalwijk on Matchday 17.
- Ajax have lost just twice in the Eredivisie this campaign, with their most recent defeat in the league coming against FC Twente back in early December.
- FC Emmen have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 league matches. It came in the 1-0 win over Utrecht in late February.
- Ajax, in contrast, are looking for their fifth clean sheet in six league matches and third in a row, after shutting down both Waalwijk and AZ Alkmaar in their last two matches.
Player to Watch
Nicolas Tagliafico
Nicolas Tagliofico is one of the players who are unlikely to remain at Ajax this summer, meaning this could be one of his last games for the Eredivisie giants. He has already a lot of interest from the Premier League clubs including Manchester United, so the left-back could be keen on making a solid impression in an attempt to seal a move to a bigger club.
From a sporting perspective, Tagliafico’s experience, coupled with his technical prowess could be invaluable for Ajax in a game where avoiding a defeat could be enough to seal the title. The Argentine has been one of the main protagonists of an excellent domestic campaign and he will lift the trophy with pride, should Ajax manage to seal at least a point on Sunday.
Prediction
Ajax 1-0 FC Emmen
FC Emmen are not an opposition to be taken lightly by Ajax at all, as the relegation-threatened minnows are currently unbeaten in the Eredivisie since mid-February and are also one of the most in-form teams in the league. As such, the table-toppers could endure a difficult time penetrating the lines of their opposition, meaning this could be decided by the finest of margins. Nevertheless, they should have enough to secure a narrow win, sealing another title triumph.