Heerenveen vs Ajax – News and Probable Lineups

Ajax will make the trip to the north-east to take on Heerenveen at Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday as they aim to secure a victory that could ensure a top-four finish in the 2025–26 Eredivisie season.

The visitors from Amsterdam find themselves in fifth place within the Dutch top division, trailing third-placed Twente by three points for the last Champions League qualification spot and just one point behind NEC, who are occupying the fourth position for the Europa League, while the hosts, currently in eighth place, have already secured a spot in the European playoffs.

Match overview

Ajax has experienced a season of ups and downs in the 2025–26 Eredivisie, with their recent lack of consistency putting them at risk of finishing outside of the top four for the second time in 26 years.

The Amsterdam team has only achieved six wins from their 16 league encounters (D7, L3) since the start of the year, managing to secure back-to-back victories just once during this timeframe, which was against the now-relegated teams of Heracles and NAC Breda on matchdays 30 and 31, respectively.

However, Ajax’s recent form has seen them drop points in consecutive games, following a 2–2 draw in De Topper against the already-crowned champions PSV Eindhoven with a frustrating 2–1 loss at home against FC Utrecht, who are also vying for European qualification.

Having fallen behind 1-0 in the latter match, Oscar Garcia’s side equalized through veteran striker Wout Weghorst in the 84th minute, only for Mike van der Hoorn to score a stoppage-time winner, leaving the Amsterdam side outside the top four.

Despite Ajax no longer having complete control over their fate for a fourth-place finish, a win in Friesland would greatly enhance their prospects, and De Godenzonen can be hopeful, particularly following two consecutive away victories where they netted five goals without conceding.

Conversely, Heerenveen comes into this match following a disappointing 2–0 loss away at NAC, a team that has now been relegated, where Boy Kemper scored in both halves for the home side.

This result marked only their second defeat in the last nine league matches for De Superfriezen (W6, D1), with the only other defeat occurring against AZ Alkmaar in mid-April, and those two losses were the sole occasions in which Robin Veldman’s players failed to find the net during that span.

With a place in the European playoffs already secured, Heerenveen still seeks to improve their standing, currently sitting just one point shy of sixth-placed AZ Alkmaar while being level on points with seventh-placed FC Utrecht.

A higher finish would be a significant achievement for the Super Frisians, who have not concluded a top-flight season higher than seventh place since 2014–15, and they will draw confidence from having won their last five home league games, each with at least two goals scored.

However, historical encounters show Heerenveen’s struggles against Ajax, managing only one win in their last 35 competitive clashes, with 29 losses in those matches, though this season’s earlier matchup ended in a 1–1 draw.

Team News

Ajax is likely to be without Owen Wijndal, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kian Fitz-Jim, and Vitezslav Jaros due to various injuries.

Weghorst made a successful return from a short absence, scoring against Utrecht last weekend, bringing his Eredivisie tally to eight for the season, and he may be favored over Kasper Dolberg in the striker role.

Meanwhile, Mika Godts remains Ajax’s top scorer in the league with 17 goals, having been outscored only by Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda in the current Eredivisie.

Heerenveen might again miss Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Levi Smans as they recover from thigh and knee injuries, respectively.

Maxence Rivera and Nikolai Hopland have both been unavailable for the previous two matches and could be doubts for this weekend, although the return of midfielder Joris van Overeem from suspension will provide Veldman with a welcome boost.

Heerenveen probable starting XI:

Clover Jack; Braude, Kersten, Willemsen, Zagaritis; Linday, Van Overeem; Trenskow, Meerveld, Oyen; Vente

Ajax probable starting XI:

Paes; Gaaei, Sutalo, Baas, Rosa; Reign, Itakura, Mokio; Berghuis, Weghorst, Godts

While Ajax may have more at stake in this match, their recent inconsistency might threaten their chances of earning full points against a home side that is in good form.

Heerenveen has also faced difficulties historically in this matchup, though their recent home victories indicate they could pose challenges for the visitors, making a score draw seem the most plausible outcome.