AZ vs Ajax
3 March 1900hrs
Football – Netherlands – KNVB Beker
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Boylesports
Odds: 6/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 1 March
The two in form teams in Dutch football go head to head in the semi-finals of the Dutch Cup as AZ host Ajax on Thursday evening.
Table of Contents
AZ Preview – Can AZ repeat their win from earlier in the season to upset visitors?
It was a slow start for AZ this season but that was probably to be expected following a change in head coach halfway through the previous campaign, and a number of key players moving on. That transition affected their results but there are more than a few signs that Pascal Jensen is finding the right balance and happier times are on the horizon for AZ. They come into this game unbeaten in their last 19 matches across all competitions, winning their last five and 14 of their last 15.
That has seen them rise to fourth place in the table and very much within a chance of taking third spot. A nine point gap between themselves and Ajax at the top is perhaps too much to overcome with 10 games left but they do still have to play the champions at home.
Ajax Preview – Will Ajax’ class tell as they look to retain the trophy?
Just when you think Ajax will begin to pull away from PSV at the top of the Eredivisie they contrive to keep the title race alive. Having won seven straight including a vital three points away to their Eindhoven rivals, a gap had opened to four points. However, the current Dutch champions were surprisingly defeated 2-1 by Go Ahead Eagles at the weekend and are now just a single point ahead.
Erik ten Hag’s men also have a crucial second leg, last-16 Champions League tie against Benfica to come later this month following the sides’ 2-2 draw in Lisbon last week.
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The priority for now, however, is attempting to overcome the challenge of AZ as they look to retain the trophy they won last season. Ajax won 2-1 against Vitesse in the final just under a year ago before going on to complete a domestic double. They’ll be looking to end this campaign in similar fashion.
Their route to the last four has been one full of goals – for them. The holders have scored 18 goals in three games and are yet to concede in this year’s competition. It is a phenomenal effort but this will be their hardest game by far in their quest to win the Dutch Cup for a second straight season.
AZ vs Ajax Betting Advice
This has the makings of being an epic semi-final between two teams who don’t get beaten often. AZ might not be a realistic challenger for the Dutch title but they are in the form of a contender and having beaten Ajax in their own stadium towards the end of last year, know they have what it takes to get the better of the champions and cup holders.
The winners will take on either PSV or Go Ahead Eagles in the final which will take place in Rotterdam.
Key Facts – AZ vs Ajax Betting Tip
- AZ are unbeaten in their last 19 games in all competitions, winning their last five
- Ajax are the holders of this competition having beaten Vitesse 2-1 in last year’s final
- AZ won the only previous meeting of the teams this season, winning 2-1 in Amsterdam
Ajax are rightly favourites but I don’t see them having their own way here. Both teams to score has been a winner in seven of AZ’s last eight games and it can do so again here, meaning Ajax conceding their first goal of the competition.
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