Preview: Feyenoord vs Ajax – prediction, team news, lineups

De Klassieker, a fixture that has produced over 500 objectives all through its wealthy historical past, is about to gentle up the Eredivisie this weekend as Feyenoord Rotterdam welcome file champions Ajax to De Kuip in an important battle for European locations.

Robin van Persie‘s facet ended a two-sport winless run with a victory over SBV Excelsior final weekend, whereas Ajax additionally returned to successful methods below new head coach Oscar Garcia.

Match preview

Feyenoord head into Sunday’s De Klassieker understanding that victory might considerably strengthen their grip on second place within the Eredivisie tablewith the Rotterdam facet presently on 52 factors after 27 matches.

Their consistency all through the marketing campaign has saved them firmly in rivalry behind leaders PSV Eindhoven, and a win right here wouldn’t solely improve their push for a second-place end but additionally create additional distance from Sunday’s opponent.

The residence facet have been significantly spectacular at De Kuip, turning their stadium right into a fortress with 4 wins from their final six league matches, a run that has been central to their push close to the summit and offering a big psychological edge heading into one among Dutch soccer’s fiercest fixtures.

Feyenoord’s attacking output has additionally performed a key position, with 60 objectives scored to this point this season, the third-greatest tally within the division behind PSV and NEC Nijmegen, whereas in addition they boast the second-greatest residence file with 10 wins, one draw and three defeats.

Van Persie’s facet ended a two-sport winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Excelsior final weekend, taking their tally to 52 factors, which places them three away from NEC in third and 5 forward of Ajax in fourth.

However, regardless of their present power, historical past urges warning, as Feyenoord have misplaced the final three conferences in opposition to Ajax, though they nonetheless enter this conflict as slight favorites because of their superior league place, residence benefit and extra constant type, whereas remaining conscious that any lapse in focus might be punished in a fixture that not often follows the script.

A day after their 3-1 defeat at FC Groningen Earlier this month, Ajax reshuffled their teaching setup by selling Oscar Garcia from the reserves to change into their third head coach of the season, with Fred Grim returning to the academy.

The Spaniard started his tenure with a convincing 4-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam and can look to construct on that robust begin in Sunday’s second Klassieker of the season in opposition to Feyenoord.

De Godenzonen travels to Rotterdam sitting fourth within the Eredivisie standings with 47 factors, remaining inside touching distance of the highest three and understanding {that a} victory might considerably reshape the race for a Champions League place subsequent season.

While final weekend’s win improved morale, it solely partially eased the stress following a poor run of 1 victory of their earlier seven matches, and Ajax will intention to shut the hole to only two factors with a win in Rotterdam.

Their away type stays a significant concern, as they’re winless of their final 4 league matches on the street and have managed simply three wins from 13 away fixtures this season, alongside eight attracts and two defeats.

Historically, Ajax have dominated this fixture, successful the final three encounters and recording 82 victories in 165 conferences with Feyenoord, in comparison with 42 defeats and 41 attracts.

Feyenoord Eredivisie type:

Ajax Eredivisie type:

Team News

© Iconsport / ANP

Feyenoord proceed to cope with a rising harm checklist, with Bart Nieuwkoop dominated out for the remainder of the season after struggling an harm throughout final weekend’s win over Excelsior.

South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom can also be set for a month on the sidelines after sustaining ankle ligament injury in the identical match, having been pressured off within the forty fourth minute, with supervisor Van Persie initially describing the difficulty as “worrisome.”

The Pride of the South are additionally with out Jeremiah St. Juste, whereas Shaqueel van Persie, Givairo Read, Malcolm Jeng, Gernot Trauner, Thomas Beelen, Shiloh ‘t Zand, Sem Steijn, Leo Sauer and Gijs Smal stay unavailable because of numerous accidents.

For Ajax, Wout Weghorst returns after serving a suspension through the win over Sparta, whereas former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu made his first begin for the membership in that match following his mid-season arrival.

However, Vitezslav Jaros and Oleksandr Zinchenko stay sidelined with knee accidents, and Ko Itakura can also be unavailable because of a again downside, whereas Youri Regeer was substituted off after 25 minutes in opposition to Sparta with a suspected harm.

Feyenoord doable beginning lineup:

Wellenreuther; Deijl, Moder, Kraaijeveld, Bos; Valente, Targhalline, Lotomba; Moussa, Sterling, Ueda

Ajax doable beginning lineup:

Paes; Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Tomiyasu; Klaassen, Mokio, Steur; Berghuis, Godts, Konadu

We say: Feyenoord 2-2 Ajax

Feyenoord come into this fixture in robust type, having misplaced simply eleven of their final six matches, and will probably be keen to finish a 3-sport winless run in opposition to Ajax.

Although the guests seem revitalized below Garcia and gained confidence from final weekend’s victory, each side are anticipated to method the sport aggressively, which might end in an entertaining contest the place the factors are finally shared.

For information evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.