Ajax vs Nijmegen – News and Probable Lineups

Ajax will aim to break a winless streak against NEC, a challenge they face this Saturday in matchday eight of the Eredivisie after two years without a victory over them.

Before the international break, the Amsterdam club drew 2-2 with SBV Excelsior, whilst their guests from Nijmegen may have appreciated the interruption, providing a chance to regroup after a lackluster start to the 2026-27 season.

Match overview

Ajax’s recurring issues with maintaining clean sheets have hindered their efforts, highlighted by their inability to secure a win against Excelsior before the extended break.

Despite having 33 shots to Excelsior’s four, Ajax allowed two goals to slip through, leading to frustration for both the players and fans at Johan Cruyff Arena.

As they return home, Ajax will be looking to turn around their luck against NEC and could potentially climb to second place in the league with a win, depending on the outcomes of matches involving Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, and FC Twente.

Although achieving that seems challenging in the same round of fixtures, Ajax remains determined to secure a victory over Nijmegen after failing to win in their last three encounters since their 2-1 triumph in December 2024.

Following that success, the club has since endured a 3-0 defeat and a frustrating 1-1 draw in Amsterdam—a disappointing trend against a team they previously managed to beat five times in the last seven matches, with two draws.

Even though Ajax has only lost once to NEC in their last 32 encounters, their current three-match winless streak marks their longest dry spell since NEC drew three times between December 2006 and January 2008.

NEC will be looking to prolong their unbeaten record against Ajax, although they need to significantly improve upon their recent performances.

The team, under Schreuder, managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Go Ahead Eagles in their last match, following a disappointing 5-0 loss to Juventus in their Europa League group stage debut, which was preceded by a 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Cambuur.

This break may have come at a beneficial time for NEC, who have claimed only three victories in their 12 matches across all competitions this season, with two of those wins coming in the Eredivisie, leaving them sitting 11th in the standings.

If their attacking players do not begin to hit form, their current position may worsen, as Schreuder’s approach has led to nearly as many goals conceded as scored this term.

Team News

Kasper Dolberg’s serious knee injury during training with Dinamarca has effectively sidelined the forward for the rest of the season, marking a significant setback for the 29-year-old, who had scored two goals and assisted three times in his last three Eredivisie games.

The hosts will also be missing Daley Blind (back), Simon Adingra (foot), and Aaron Bowman, who remains out due to a severe injury sustained against PSV Eindhoven in De Topper; Caio Henrique is dealing with a knock and will be assessed prior to Saturday’s match.

Tolu Arokodare is expected to head the attack in Dolberg’s absence, potentially securing the No. 9 position for the foreseeable future.

NEC’s main attackers have struggled thus far this season, with Tjaronn Chery failing to score after netting three league goals, Bryan Linssen having just one goal to his name, and Dusan Tadic managing only one assist in six outings.

Schreuder’s squad is facing several injury concerns, with Gonzalo Crettaz (hamstring), Deveron Fonville (ankle), Ahmetcan Kaplan (knee), Bryan Nuytinck (ankle), and Emre Mor (groin) all unavailable; meanwhile, Clement Bischoff (hamstring) and Kevin Kers are doubtful for matchday eight.

Ajax probable starting XI:

Ter Stegen; Gaaei, Kehrer, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Mokio, Brandt; Berghuis, Arokodare, Gloukh

NEC probable starting XI:

pad; Bras, Schuurs, Storm; Tahaui, Nejasmic, Lebreton, Thomas; Chery, Tadic; Linssen

Ajax’s ongoing defensive weaknesses suggest that they may struggle to keep a clean sheet again, but their offensive chances against Excelsior indicate that scoring should not present a problem on their end.

Given NEC’s poor form and lengthy injury list, Ajax’s chances appear favorable to end their run without a win in this fixture.