Ajax vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction & Betting Tips (18 October)

For this 9th day of the Eredivisie, Ajax Amsterdam welcomes AZ Alkmaar to the Johan Cruyff Arena for a top-of-the-table shock.After a cataclysmic end to the season with the loss of the title and premature eliminations in the Dutch Cup and the Europa League, Ajax fully intends to return to the forefront for this new year. Under the leadership of John Heitinga, the capital club has had a rather successful debut and is in 3rd place in the standings, just 3 points behind second. However, Ajacides have been a little less good lately, with only 1 victory in the last 5 matches, in all competitions. After a bitter 4-0 defeat at Marseille in the Champions League, they achieved a draw in the league on the pitch at Sparta Rotterdam, in a prolific 3-3 encounter.

On the other side of the field, AZ Alkmaar also had a rather satisfactory start to the season. 4th, just 1 unit behind its evening opponent, AZ still pays for its irregularity. After 2 draws in a row, Maarten Martens' men lost in the den of Nec Nijmegen 2-1 and took the lead in the Conference League against AEK Larnaca 4-0. Fortunately, they turned things around last weekend in the league with a 2-1 victory over Telstar.

AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, have quietly built a reputation as Ajax’s bogey team in recent seasons. They are currently fourth in the table with 15 points and boast an eight-match unbeaten run against their Amsterdam rivals. However, their recent performances have been shaky. A 4-0 defeat to AEK Larnaca in Europe and a 2-1 loss to NEC Nijmegen have exposed vulnerabilities, especially in defense. Coach Pascal Jansen will be relying on the creativity of Dani de Wit and the finishing prowess of Vangelis Pavlidis to trouble Ajax’s backline. Despite their recent stumbles, AZ’s ability to rise to the occasion in big matches makes them a formidable opponent.

The tactical battle between Van ’t Schip and Jansen will likely hinge on midfield control and transition play. Ajax will look to dominate possession and press high, while AZ may opt for a more measured approach, exploiting spaces on the counter. Both teams have shown a tendency to concede goals, which could make for an open and entertaining encounter. With the home crowd behind them and a burning desire to reclaim bragging rights, Ajax might just edge this one. Our prediction is a 2-1 victory for Ajax, breaking their winless streak against AZ and injecting fresh momentum into their title chase.