Ajax Vs Willem II
Friday 6th December 2019 – 19:15 (kick-off)
Netherlands Eredivisie
Pick: Ajax & Over 3.5 Goals
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Ladbrokes
Netherlands Eredivisie Betting with 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 4th December 2019 at 10:10)
Preview: An imperious Ajax, who are on a winning streak of nine in the Dutch Eredivisie, will continue their march to what appears, on current form at least, like another inevitable championship when they host Willem II at their Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
Ajax Preview – Yet another emphatic scoreline incoming?
Just fifteen games into the Eredivisie season and already the reigning title holders are in ominous shape. Dare I even say the champions elect? Certainly on current form nobody is going to catch them, nor does it seem as though too many are even capable of slowing them down. Their lead over second, which is AZ Alkmaar, is six points, but third-placed PSV are seven points further back meaning any let up from AZ and the league could become a procession for Ajax (1st – W13 D2 L0, GF52 GA12).
So easy has it been thus far that last week would see them trail in a league fixture for only the second occasion this term, allowing FC Twente to feel comfortable with a 2-0 lead before still managing to win comfortably, scoring five unanswered goals in a 5-2 away victory. That was a ninth in successive fashion for coach Erik ten Hag and his rampant champions, who have hit at least four goals in each of the previous five fixtures.
Big wins have been a common theme throughout, in fact. Four or more goals were scored by the Amsterdammers on no less than ten separate occasions, which includes six of the seven instances in which they were the home side, where they’ve been flawless up until now (W7). The only exception being a modest 2-0 scoreline versus Groningen. Meanwhile, only two visiting teams would even manage a goal against them: Heerenveen and Heracles, and both were consolations in heavy defeats.
Willem II Preview – Confidence high as excellent form continues?
Standing out in a league utterly dominated by a single entity is not easy. Willem II (4th – W8 D2 L5, GF23 GA21) are doing that, to a lesser extent, with their exploits thus far. The club have not managed a higher finish than tenth place in the final standings in any of the five seasons since returning to the Dutch top tier for the 2014-15 term. But here they are, occupying fourth spot, and only two points shy of the one automatic berth into the Europa League.
There is a long way to go, of course, and nobody truthfully expects them to maintain the sort of form which has got them to where they are now, but few can deny what a fabulous first-third of the season manager Adrie Koster and his team have had. Last week’s 4-0 rout of Sparta Rotterdam the latest of their triumphs and made it seven points taken from the last nine on offer (W2 D1), and only one loss in the last seven (W4 D2 L1). Although, much of this better form did come about on home soil.
On their travels, Willem are an altogether less convincing outfit. All three of their away victories were over teams (FC Twente, Fortuna Sittard and PEC Zwolle) currently no higher than 12th, while defensively they have been very poor, conceding a minimum of two goals on five occasions – and this, in particular, does not auger well ahead of a trip that has essentially been a death sentence for visiting defences. They’ve won only one of their previous five encounters as the away team (W1 D1 L3), the latest of which a 3-3 draw in Ado den Haag.
Ajax Vs Willem II Key Facts:
- Perfect at home so far, Ajax are seven from seven in Amsterdam in the league this season and have averaged four goals per game across these fixtures.
- One loss in seven (W4 D2 L1) is at least some strong form to be taking into an otherwise daunting fixture for Willem II, who have, however, won just one of the last five away from home (W1 D1 L3).
- Willem II have sprung a fairly recent surprise in Amsterdam, winning 2-1 there against Ajax in 2016, who have since won both subsequent home encounters by two clear goals.
Betting Summary
The blistering start to the season from Ajax (1/10 Bet365) has shown absolutely no signs of easing up anytime soon. If anything, Erik ten Hag’s men are only improving. They are certainly becoming even more ruthless, if that was even possible. Nine successive victories in the league, the last five seeing them score a minimum of four times. As the home side meanwhile, the Amsterdammers have beaten all seven opponents thus far by at least two clean goals, with six producing four or more match goals.
Willem II (29/1 Unibet) are having an excellent campaign by their standards, which is usually mid-table, and their recent form is such that a goal here wouldn’t be unthinkable. Anything more would be extraordinary; not only are Ajax formidable at home but Willem have won only once in their last five away fixtures. Another emphatic win for the champions-elect seems the best route into this contest.
