Last season was one of triumph and jubilation for Ajax, as the Dutch giants won the Eredivisie and came within seconds of making it to the Champions League final.
Erik ten Hag’s side opened their defence of the Dutch top-flight crown with a 2-2 draw at Vitesse Arnhem last weekend. On Saturday night the reigning champions have a chance to get a win on the board, as Emmen visit the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Ajax headed into the season on the back of losing two of the stars of last season in Matthijs de Light and Frenkie de Jong to Juventus and Barcelona respectively. The losses did not affect their ability to beat perennial rivals PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup, as they came out on top in a 2-0 victory.
However, the opening weekend draw ended an eight-game winning run dating back to last season. The Dutch giants are still nine games unbeaten in the Eredivisie, though, so it is not all doom and gloom. Ten Tag’s team will be confident of recording a victory in Saturday’s clash.
Emmen will be featuring in the Eredivisie for just the second time in their history. Last season the visitors made it to the Dutch top-flight for the first time and finished 14th place in the table.
➌ ➋ ① 🔭Lorenzo: ‘Als het aan mij ligt wordt het geen ‘walk-over’.https://t.co/itOGBsO48U#ajaEMM #FCEMMEN #HIERKOMIKWEG pic.twitter.com/3fZOUekzJ2— FC Emmen (@FC_Emmen) August 9, 2019
➌ ➋ ① 🔭Lorenzo: ‘Als het aan mij ligt wordt het geen ‘walk-over’.https://t.co/itOGBsO48U#ajaEMM #FCEMMEN #HIERKOMIKWEG pic.twitter.com/3fZOUekzJ2
They ended the season in rather inconsistent form, but winning four of their last seven league games last season was not a terrible record for the minnows. Their games towards the end of the campaign were tight, with six of their last seven league matches producing under 2.5 goals.
Emmen really did struggle for away wins in the Dutch top-flight towards the end of last season, losing six of their last eight league matches on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Emmen will suffer more away-day blues on Saturday, with Ajax recording a comfortable win in a high-scoring game.