Ajax vs FC Twente – News and Probable Lineups

In a tight matchup in the Eredivisie table, Ajax and FC Twente, both in pursuit of European qualification, will clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena this Saturday.

Twente arrives at this gameweek 29 encounter in notable form, clinching four victories out of their last five matches, and they seem ready to surpass the fourth-placed giants from Amsterdam, who have only managed a single win in the same timeframe.

Match overview

Following the conclusion of their lengthy Fred Grim experiment—during which Grim returned to the Ajax Academy after nearly four months as interim head coach—De Godenzonen are aiming to keep up their positive momentum under Oscar Garcia.

The club’s new interim manager took over after the team could claim only one victory in their last seven contests across competitions, six of which were in the Eredivisie.

There was an immediate effect following Garcia’s temporary appointment, as Ajax emphatically defeated Sparta Rotterdam 4-0 before settling for a 1-1 draw with second-placed Feyenoord prior to the international break.

That result in Rotterdam meant Ajax missed the opportunity to level points with third-placed NEC or to close the five-point gap to Feyenoord while needing to remain cautious about the teams trailing them in the race for European qualification.

Currently in the Europa League qualification spot, the fourth-placed Amsterdam outfit still has the chance to earn a guaranteed Champions League position if they finish second, or access Europe’s elite tournament via qualifying by finishing above NEC in third.

Both targets are certainly attainable for Ajax, though achieving them will require Garcia’s squad to fend off the threat posed by a formidable Twente side, whose recent performances present some concerns for the hosts.

While Ajax currently sits 12th in terms of form over the last five rounds, Twente leads this mini-table with an impressive 12 points from a possible 15.

The only blemish on the Pride of the East’s recent record occurred at home against FC Utrecht, a side that is also enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak in the league and stands just one point behind Twente when evaluated over the last five rounds.

This highlights the increasing optimism surrounding John van den Brom’s team as they aspire to improve upon their sixth-place finish from the previous season.

Now positioned one spot higher compared to their final placement last campaign, the Tukkers have their sights set on achieving Champions League football next season.

Nevertheless, realizing this ambition hinges on maintaining their current form across the last six fixtures, beginning with a challenging encounter at a venue where they typically struggle: they haven’t secured a victory at the Johan Cruyff Arena since December 2020, when they celebrated a 2-1 win—still their sole success in 12 visits to Amsterdam.

Team News

Takehiro Tomiyasu had to be replaced in the clash against Feyenoord due to a suspected hamstring issue, and it is likely that Owen Wijndal will take his place in the starting XI.

Also absent for the hosts during Garcia’s second home match are Oleksandr Zinchenko (knee), Ko Itakura (back), Vitezslav Jaros (back), and Youri Reeger (hamstring).

Mika Godts drew attention with a standout performance in Garcia’s home debut against Sparta, scoring and assisting to bring his total to 14 goals and nine league assists for the season, while Steven Berghuis also made a timely return to scoring, netting his first since August after a four-month absence, as he looks to add to his two league goals on Saturday.

Kristian Hlynsson of Twente has naturally been instrumental in the recent successes of the Reds, having either scored or assisted in four of his last five league outings.

With four goals and one assist during that stretch, totaling eight goals and three assists for the season, Hlynsson will aim to be impactful once again this weekend as the visitors seek a favorable outcome in Amsterdam.

Daan Rots might not take part in the effort to break Twente’s poor record at Ajax, as he exited with a suspected ankle injury before the international break, while Mees Hilgers remains a long-term absentee due to a knee problem.

Ajax probable starting XI:

Paes; Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Wijndal; Klaasen, Mokio, Sturgeon; Berghuis, Weghorst, Godts

FC Twente probable starting XI:

Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Lemkin, Nijstad, Rots; Hlynsson, Zerrouki, Van den Belt; Pjaca, Lammers, Orjasaeter

Both teams’ aspirations for European competition could lead to a dynamic encounter, promising an entertaining evening in Amsterdam.

Although history may not favor them at Ajax, we believe Twente’s superior recent form could have a significant impact, with Van den Brom’s charged side expected to break their winless streak at the Johan Cruyff Arena.