Ajax vs FC Volendam prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2023-01-26 20:00.
Record holding 26-time champions Ajax Amsterdam has one last chance to avoid matching their longest winless run in league football against a struggling opposition. Once upon a time, in 1964/1965, the Amsterdammers managed to close out a horrific season with seven consecutive games without a win (D4, L3), a record that is now almost 60 years old. A home loss against PSV Eindhoven in 2022 was followed up with five consecutive draws, three of which were against clubs ranked ninth or lower, leaving them no guarantee of claiming three points against visiting FC Volendam.
Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder has understandably been under the grill from the court of public opinion for quite some time and Davy Klaassen’s equaliser in the Classic (D 1-1) on Sunday was a big boost. Still, having endured several games without a win against a top-flight opponent excluding their KNVB Cup victory against second-tier club FC Den Bosch, anything short of a win will be immensely frustrating.
The 18th round concludes with a visiting club that are doing their darndest to climb out of a deep rut. They handed last place to SC Cambuur with victories over Waalwijk and Cambuur themselves, but let Excelsior get away from them with three points on the weekend to remain three points away from avoiding the relegation playoff or worse. Whilst that loss to Excelsior should not spoil the joy of doubling their points acquired in the 2022 calendar year, this will be a decisive period with a weekend game against fellow battlers Groningen to follow.
FC Volendam have been one of the Eredivisie’s quieter clubs on the transfer market. Midfielder Florent Da Silva was recruited from Olympique Lyon whilst midfielder Flip Klomp acquired a contract. Manager Wim Jonk and his troops will be approaching this game in the knowledge that in the space of just a few days they could launch themselves into fifteenth place or higher.
Players to watch: At Ajax, Steven Berghuis weathered the storm in De Kuip well and has now been involved in nine goals from 15 appearances this season (G5, A4). For the visitors, former Ajax player Carel Eiting has been one of their MVPs with two goals and five assists from 17 league matches played.
Hot stat: FC Volendam last took a point home from the Johan Cruijff ArenA on October 20, 1996, courtesy of a 1-1 draw. Since then, Ajax have won three times in a row with an imposing aggregate score of 13-3.