Ajax vs Heerenveen 25/01/19

25 January 2019

Just a few days after playing out a thrilling 4-4 draw in the Eredivisie, Ajax and Heerenveen will face-off at the Johan Cruijff Arena in the Dutch KNVB Beker quarter-finals.

Labeled as huge favorites to win this, the Lancers are still unbeaten at home in competitive games this season (W12, D3). Erik ten Hag’s men have scored over 2.5 goals per match in 12 of 15 home outings across all competitions, keeping a clean sheet ten times in the process. However, Ajax have failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last seven competitive outings, conceding over 1.5 goals per match three times during that period. Also, six of the past seven Ajax’s encounters in all competitions have seen them score over 3.5 goals, while five of them produced over 4.5 goals.

It will be a daunting prospect for Heerenveen to pick up a victory against Ajax considering their last win in Amsterdam dates back to 2009. The Super Frisians are winless in their previous ten visits to the Johan Cruijff Arena (D2, L8), conceding over 3.5 goals in each of their last five H2H meetings with Ajax at this venue. Heerenveen’s fragile defense has seen them failed to keep a clean sheet on eight consecutive road trips in all competitions, allowing 16 goals in that period. However, an encouragning fact for Jan Olde Riekerink is that his players scored over 3.5 goals per match in three of their last four away clashes.