DomainJava.com – AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax prediction in the KNVB Beker match, In the match between top clubs in the third round of the KNVB Beker, Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar hopes to advance by beating Ajax on Tuesday at AFAS Stadium.
The hosts beat Eredivisie club Groningen 3-1 in the previous round on December 18, while their opponents beat second division side Telstar 2-0 on December 19.
AZ were eliminated from the KNVB Beker in the quarter-finals last season when they were beaten 2-0 by Feyenoord on February 7, 2024.
The home team has won the tournament four times, although the last victory came in 2012-13, and it remains the last trophy the club has won.
Coach Maarten Martens will be disappointed as his side are currently sixth in the Eredivisie with 33 points after 18 matchweeks and are currently on track to record 62 points, three fewer than they achieved last season.
Martens may feel confident that his side can beat Ajax considering they beat their opponents 2-1 on December 8 in the Eredivisie, and it is worth noting that the club are also unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, winning six in that period.
AZ have also won their last four home games, winning by a cumulative score of 7-2.
As for Ajax, they were eliminated from the KNVB Beker in 2023-24 when they lost 3-2 against USV Hercules on December 21, 2023.
Current manager Francesco Farioli becomes the club’s first foreign head coach since Morten Olsen in the 1997-98 season, and he has brought stability after the turbulence of last season, which saw the club sack Maurice Steijn and alternate interim coaches.
De Godenzonen are second in the league with 42 points from 18 games – four points less than first-placed PSV Eindhoven – and are on track to record 79 points, far more than the 56 they earned in 2023 -24.
Farioli’s side have won their last four games, keeping clean sheets in three of those games while conceding just once.
However, it is worth noting that Ajax’s away form has been mixed considering they have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five away games.
AZ’s injury list is not extensive, but they have doubts about the availability of attacking midfielder Kees Smit, as well as midfielder Kristijan Belic and goalkeeper Sem Westerveld.
It would not be surprising if the hosts field a similar line-up to the side that beat Ajax earlier this season, so perhaps goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet will be protected by centre-backs Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra.
Peer Koopmeiners may be joined in midfield by Sven Mijnans and Jordy Clasie, while forward Troy Parrot may be flanked by Ernest Poku and Ruben van Bommel.
Ajax are concerned about striker Amourricho van Axel Dongen, and if he is not ready to play on Tuesday, the visitors could field a forward featuring Steven Berghuis, Brian Brobbey and Mika Godts.
Defenders Gaston Avila and Josip Sutalo are also doubtful, so expect Jorrel Hato, Youri Baas, Daniele Rugani and Devyne Rensch to protect goalkeeper Remko Pasveer..(ed)
(source: Sportsmole)
AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax Player Predictions
AZ Alkmaar : Sweet; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Clasie; Poku, Parrott, Van Bommel
Ajax : Pasveer; Rensch, Rugani, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Berghuis, Brobbey, Godts
Prediksi Skor AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax: 1-1
The post Prediksi AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax, KNVB Cup 15 January 2025 appeared first on DomainJava.com.
