The title race in Eredivise is so tight, and all the remaining matches will be crucial for the title contenders AFC Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. Now the pressure will be on Ajax as they face SC Cambuur on Friday at the Cambuur-Stadion. Cambuur have struggled for form in 2022, winning just one league game so far this year. They were beaten 1-0 by Twente last time out and failed to offer much offensively as they had no shot on target all game.
Although they sit just outside the Europa Conference League playoffs places, Cambuur’s hopes of finishing in the top seven are hanging by a thread. With nine games to play, Friday’s hosts are seven points adrift of the Europa Conference League playoffs after losing four of their last five matches, but they can still be pleased with their efforts in their first season back in the top-flight since the 2015-16 campaign.
When these two sides faced each other in September at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax Amsterdam cruised to a 9-0 rout of Cambuur. David Neres scored twice while the other seven goals were shared amongst Jurrien Timber, Steven Berghuis, Noussair Mazraoui, Dusan Tadic, Mohamed Daramy, Danilo and Sebastien Haller.
Ajax have been by far the highest-scoring team in the Eredivisie this season. They’ve scored 74 goals in 25 league games. That’s almost three goals per game.
Head to Head and Form Guide:
Friday’s meeting will mark the 15th match between Cambuur and Ajax. The hosts have won just two of their previous matchups, while the visitors have won 11 times. There has been one draw between the two teams.
Cambuur Form Guide: L-W-L-L-L
Ajax Form Guide: W-L-W-W-W
Team News:
SC Cambuur: Goalkeeper Sonny Stevens came off injured against Twente last weekend. He is expected to miss Friday’s game alongside Roberts Uldrikis for the hosts. Mees Hoedemakers and Maxim Gullit are expected to be absent for the hosts due to injury issues.
Marco Tol is set to replace Calvin Mac-Intosch, who will serve a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
AFC Ajax: As for Ajax, they will be without the services of Brian Bobbey, Noussair Mazraoui and Remko Pasveer, who are all ruled out through injury.
Lisandro Martinez is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, which could result in a defensive reshuffle, with Daley Blind expected to move across to partner Perr Schuurs in the centre of defence, while Nicolas Tagliafico will feature at left-back.
Possible Line-ups:
Cambuur Possible XI (4-3-3): Pieter Bos (GK); Alex Bangura, Erik Schouten, Calvin Mac-Intosch, Jasper tee Heide; Robin Maulun, Mitchell Paulissen, Jamie Jacobs; Patrick Joosten, Tom Boere, Issa Kallon
Ajax Possibel XI (4-2-3-1): Andre Onana (GK); Daley Blind, Perr Schurrs, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui; Ryan Gravenberch, Edson Alvarez; Antony, Steven Berghuis, Dusan Tadic; Sebastien Haller
