De Graafschap VS Ajax Match Prediction
2019-05-15
17:30:00
De Graafschap
VS
Ajax
Our Prediction Tip
Ajax will win this match.
2019-05-1517:30:00 Ajax will win this match.
While the two teams drew on the final day of De Graafschap’s last Eredivisie season in 2016 – a result which cost Ajax the title – it is the only time this fixture has ended in a draw. Ajax have won the other 11 of their last 12 matches in this fixture, with their 8-0 win at home in December actually the second time they have put eight past De Graafschap. Daley Blind and Hakim Ziyech both scored hat-tricks in that game, after Dusan Tadic and Noussair Mazraoui had fired Ajax into an early lead.
Ajax bounced back from their heartbreaking Champions League defeat to Spurs by beating Utrecht last season and all-but-sealing the title.
It means a fine season will still end on a high and, having put eight past De Graafschap earlier in the season, they can crown their campaign with another big win.
But for the second-half of their semi-final second leg with Spurs, Ajax have been almost faultless over the last few months.
Dusan Tadic’s goalscoring form has been extraordinary, while Hakim Ziyech has contributed plenty of goals and assists from the wing.
Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek are highly sought after in midfield, and their defence has been solid too.
They have already scored 115 league goals in 33 games, of which they have won 27. Another big win – particularly after De Graafschap’s heavy defeat to Vitesse – is certainly in the offing.
It would be a fitting end to a fine season too.
Ajax are huge odds-on favourites to beat De Graafschap, and you can back the champions elect at 1/10 with Ladbrokes, Betway and 10Bet.
A win to nil, as they managed in the reverse fixture, improves those odds to a generous 23/20 with Ladbrokes, meanwhile.
Ajax scored eight at home to De Graafschap before Christmas, while the hosts have conceded ten goals across their last two defeats. Over 4.5 goals will return 21/20 with Ladbrokes and 888sport. Over 5.5 goals is a best price of 9/4 with Bet365 and 888sport.
Dusan Tadic has been a goalscoring machine this season, and he is 5/9 with 10Bet and 11/20 with 888sport to score at any time. Hakim Ziyech is 19/20 with 888sport.
Ajax put eight past De Graafschap earlier in the season and they can crown a fine season by sealing their Eredivisie title win with another big victory.
Youssef El Jebli could start against Ajax, after scoring his ninth goal of the season having replaced Javier Vet at half-time in the heavy defeat to Vitesse Arnhem.
Youssef El Jebli – De Graafschap’s top goalscorer this season, with nine goals and nine assists to his name.
Nigel Betrams – Six goals conceded at the weekend and the goalkeeper is going to be busy again against Ajax.
Lars Nieuwpoort – The centre-back will have to keep Dusan Tadic quiet if De Graafschap are going to perform the improbable and beat Ajax.
Though they have conceded ten goals across their last two away matches, De Graafschap did win their most recent home game – Fabian Serrarens scoring the only goal against Emmen. That followed a 4-1 defeat to VVV, despite Furdjel Narsingh’s early strike, while they lost 6-1 at Vitesse last time out. Youssef El Jebli’s ninth goal of the season in the latter was nothing more than a late consolation.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar started in place of injured David Neres at the weekend and could lead the line again going into this final game of the season after his goal and assists in the 4-1 win against Utrecht. Lasse Schone dropped to the bench, but may start ahead of Noussair Mazraoui – who he replaced after 72 minutes on Sunday.
Hakim Ziyech – The Albanian winger has caught the eye all season and now has 21 goals and 23 assists to his name.
Dusan Tadic – His two goals at the weekend took him to 36 for the season, complemented by 24 assists, in what has been an extraordinary campaign.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – Scored the equaliser against Utrecht on Sunday and now has 23 goals for the season, alongside seven assists.
Ajax’s only defeat in their last 12 games was their last-minute Champions League defeat at home to Tottenham. Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech had scored to put Ajax 3-0 up on aggregate at half-time, only for Spurs to hit back with a stunning second-half showing. The 3-2 defeat on the night cost Ajax a final place on away goals. They then fell behind less than a minute into the home game with Utrecht at the weekend, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Donny van de Beek turned things round before half-time and Dusan Tadic’s late double sealed a 4-1 win that all-but-secured the Eredivisie title.
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