Eredivisie | Gameweek 24

Mar 2, 2025 at 1.30pm UK

Yanmar Stadion

Almere City vs Ajax

Match preview

Almere City return to the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday looking to boost their Eredivisie survival hopes in what has been a tough campaign.

De Zwarte Schapen have spent most of the season in the automatic relegation zone, taking just 14 points from their 23 league games, winning just three and losing 15, and have struggled at both ends of the pitch, scoring just 15 goals and conceding 47.

Their last win came at Utrecht in early February, thanks to a lone goal from Junior Kadile, but Jeroen Rijsdijk's side have been unable to climb out of the bottom three since then, starting with a 2-2 draw at NEC, where Vito van Crooij equalised in stoppage time after Ricardo Visus and Hamdi Akujobi had given the hosts a 2-1 lead.

De Zwarte Schapen then faced a tough trip to third-placed Feyenoord last weekend, and after taking an early lead through Charles-Andreas Brym and being pegged back by a Julian Carranza equaliser, they again fell victim to a late goal as David Hancko's 91st-minute strike snatched all three points for the hosts.

Almere City, who have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks but have been unable to convert them into points to close the gap on safety, are now six points adrift of the relegation zone and 10 points adrift of 15th, and will be desperate for a fourth league win of the season on Sunday to kick-start their climb up the table.

However, they will face a stern test from the visitors, who will be looking for a ninth successive league win to help them close the gap.

Aiming to reclaim the Eredivisie title they last won in 2022, Ajax have enjoyed a strong campaign so far, currently sitting top of the table with 57 points from their 23 games, while conceding a league-low 18 goals.

A run of eight successive wins in the Dutch top flight, which began with a 3-0 home win over Sunday's opponents in the reverse fixture in mid-December, has seen them move to the top of the standings, scoring 19 goals and conceding just two.

After edging past Union SG in the Europa League play-offs, scoring the decisive goal in extra time to draw 2-2 on aggregate, Francesco Farioli's side returned to league action on Sunday and extended their lead over the chasing pack with a 2-0 home win over Go Ahead Eagles, with Brian Brobbey opening the scoring before the hour mark and Oliver Edvardsen adding a second four minutes from time.

With momentum building at De Godenzonen, who have moved five points clear of second-placed PSV Eindhoven in recent weeks, Ajax will now be looking to extend their winning run and complete a double over the hosts to move one step closer to bringing the title back to Amsterdam.

Recent Performance

Almere City Eredivisie form:DLLWDL

Ajax Eredivisie form:WWWWWW

Ajax form (all competitions):WWWWLW

Team News

Almere City are likely to be unchanged from last weekend's narrow defeat to Feyenoord, with defender Theo Barbet and midfielder Alex Carbonell still out injured.

Junior Kadile will be hoping to return to the front line after missing that game through suspension, while January signing Charles-Andreas Brym will continue to lead the line after scoring his first goal for the club last time out, with no player in the squad having scored more than two goals this season.

Key man Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp should again be joined in midfield by Thom Haye, while James Lawrence and Ricardo Viscus will continue their partnership at the heart of a back four in Barbet's absence.

Ajax's injury list remains unenviable, with Josip Sutalo, Branco van den Boomen, Owen Wijndal, Christian Rasmussen and Wout Weghorst all on the sidelines, while first-choice goalkeeper Remko Pasveer missed the last game and could be sidelined again.

If his absence continues, Matheus will start between the sticks again, while Daniele Rugani is likely to start at the heart of defence alongside Youri Baas.

Oliver Edvardsen and Steven Berguis will both battle for starts in attack after Mika Godts and Bertrand Traore flanked Brian Brobbey from the start against Go Ahead Eagles, while Jorthy Mokio will hope to rejoin Davy Klaassen and top scorer Kenneth Taylor in midfield despite competition from Kian Fitz-Jim and Jordan Henderson.

Possible starting lineup

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Akujobi, Lawrence, Viscus, Zagaritis; Ritmeester Van De Kamp, Haye; Hansen, Robinet, Kadile; Brym

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Gaaei, Rugani, Baas, Hato; Taylor, Klaassen, Fitz-Jim; Godts, Brobbey, Edvardsen