📏 Form Guide

NEC

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NEC will be wanting a better result here following a 1-2 Eredivisie losing effort in their last game against FC Utrecht.

In that game, NEC managed 62% possession and 19 shots at goal with 6 on target. The scorer for NEC was Sontje Hansen (48'). For their opponents, FC Utrecht had 10 shots at goal with 6 of them on target. Yoann Cathline (35') and Victor Jensen (62') scored for FC Utrecht.

Fixtures featuring NEC have proved to be absorbing ones of late with plenty of scoring anticipated. Over their past 6 clashes, the sum total of 23 goals have been scored for both teams combined (at an average of 3.83 goals per game) with 17 of those being chalked up by NEC.

Going into this encounter, NEC have not won against Ajax in their previous 27 league matches. That has got to hurt.

Ajax

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Following on from a loss in their previous game against Real Sociedad in Europa League action, Ajax and their fans will hope to get a better result this time.

In that game, Ajax managed 47% possession and 12 attempts at goal with 3 of them on target. Real Sociedad got 12 attempts on goal with 3 of them on target. Barrenetxea (67') and Takefusa Kubo (85') scored for Real Sociedad.

A run of accomplished showings by the Ajax defensive unit has resulted in the number of goals they’ve conceded amounting to 4 from their past 6 outings combined. In that period of time, their own attack force has managed to score 14. Such a pattern might not be carried forward into this next game, however.

Pre-game facts show that Ajax:

• have not been beaten by NEC when having played them away from home in the previous 13 matches in the league. It doesn't get much better than that.
• are undefeated in their last 5 away league matches.

👥 Head to head

An inspection of their past head to head meetings stretching back to 14/08/2021 shows that these fixtures have been miserable for NEC. They have not been able to get any wins at all whereas Ajax have remained in the ascendancy, finishing as winners in 67 per cent of those ties.

16 goals were yielded between them throughout the course of those matches, with 4 of them from NEC and 12 belonging to de Godenzonen. The average goals per game has been 2.67.

The previous league fixture featuring these clubs was Eredivisie match day 32 on 18/02/2024 and the score finished Ajax 2-2 NEC.

On that occasion, Ajax managed 53% possession and 8 attempts on goal with 4 of them on target. The goalscorers were Brian Brobbey (7'), Jorrel Hato (61' Own goal) and Carlos Forbs (79').

At the other end, NEC got 16 shots on goal with 9 on target. Róber (95') scored.

The referee was Bas Nijhuis.

🗞️ Team News: NEC

Dirk Proper (Shoulder injury) and Bram Nuytinck (Ill) are unavailable for NEC boss Rogier Meijer.

We think that NEC will probably use the 4-2-3-1 formation in the match, utilising Robin Roefs, Brayann Pereira, Ivan Marquez, Thomas Reinders, Calvin Verdonk, Mees Hoedemakers, Kodai Sano, Vito van Crooij, Roberto Gonzalez, Sontje Hansen and Koki Ogawa.

ℹ️ Team News: Ajax

Ajax manager Francesco Farioli has not got a full squad to pick from. Wout Weghorst (Ill), Sivert Mannsverk (Ankle injury), Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen (Ankle injury), Gastón Ávila (Knee surgery) and Mika Godts (Hamstring injury) will miss out on this game.

It’s our belief that de Godenzonen seem most likely to play in a 4-3-3 system using Remko Pasveer, Devyne Rensch, Josip Sutalo, Youri Baas, Jorrel Hato, Steven Berghuis, Jordan Henderson, Davy Klaassen, Bertrand Traore, Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom.

🔮 Prediction

Our feeling is that NEC could find themselves up against it to get anything against this Ajax team who we think will get the win and a maybe even keep a clean sheet as well.

Our tip is therefore for a hard-fought 0-1 winning score for Ajax at the conclusion of the game.

Looking forward to watching this one unfold.

Our expert partners are tipping over 1.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Lucas Pereira, 15:02 01/12/2024