Eredivisie | Gameweek 14

Dec 1, 2024 at 3.45pm UK

Goffertstadion

Nijmegenvs.Ajax

Match preview

After a slow start to the season, with just seven points from their first eight games, NEC are now making progress and are moving up the league table.

After the October international break, NEC picked up three great wins against Heerenveen, Groningen and RKC Waalwijk. They scored a total of 12 goals in those matches and kept a clean sheet in all of them.

Last weekend, they played another great game against Utrecht at home. It looked like they might get a draw when Sontje Hansen equalised, but Victor Jensen scored for the visitors just before half-time.

There were lots of positives for Rogier Meijer to take from his side's performance in that match. They dominated almost every statistical category, most notably maintaining 63% of the possession and registering almost double the attempts at goal as their opponents.

NEC will need to build on that performance here, though, as they're up against an opponent they've failed to beat in their last 10 encounters. They've lost seven and drawn three since August 2015.

Meanwhile, at this same stage last season, Ajax had only managed 15 points and suffered five defeats, which saw them languishing in the bottom half of the table. This term has been a lot different, though.

De Godenzonen have won nine of their 12 matches so far (W9 D2 L1) and could end this weekend in the top two, with Utrecht – who are two points ahead of them – set to face PSV earlier in the day.

But there was disappointment for Francesco Farioli's side this week, as they lost 2-0 to La Liga outfit Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.

In the league, Ajax beat PEC Zwolle 2-0 last weekend. This extends their current unbeaten streak in the top flight to 10 matches, nine of which ended in victory. The only blip on their record during that period was the 2-2 draw against Twente.

Recent Performance

NEC Eredivisie form:LWLWWL

Ajax Eredivisie form:WWWWDW

Team News

Dirk Proper was back with the squad after missing eight matches with a shoulder injury, playing the final 30 minutes against Utrecht last weekend. He's hoping to be in the starting 11 this week.

Philippe Sandler is still a doubt, while the only known absentee for NEC this weekend is centre-back Bram Nuytinck, who has now been sidelined for the last three matches due to illness.

Wout Weghorst couldn't make the trip to Spain midweek because he was ill, but it looks like he's recovered now and will be in the squad for this match.

However, Ajax are still without several first-team players due to injury, including Julian Rijkhoff (knee), Sivert Mannsverk (ankle), Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen (ankle) and long-term absentee Gaston Ávila (knee).

Possible starting lineup

NEC possible starting lineup:

Roefs; Pereira, Marquez, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, Sano; Hansen, Gonzalez, Van Crooij; Ogawa

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Berghuis; Traore, Weghorst, Akpom