On Sunday afternoon, Ajax hosts FC Twente at the Johan Cruyff Arena in the Eredivisie as the visitors look to consolidate their place in the Champions League qualifying round for next season.
Ajax suffered a humiliation against Feyenoord last time outThe home team suffered a 6-0 hammering at bitter-rivals Feyenoord last time out in the Eredivisie. The result ended a five-game unbeaten run in the Dutch top-flight. However, John van 't Schip’s team has also won just once in their last five Eredivisie games.
The mixed recent run of results has left Ajax in sixth place in the table, occupying one of the Europa Conference League play-off spots. The Amsterdam giants are seven points adrift of fourth place and the Europa League play-off berths.
Ajax’s recent Eredivisie games have at least produced entertainment, with over 2.5 goals scored in four of the last five matches in the Dutch top-flight.
One positive for Ajax is that they are unbeaten in 11 Eredivisie games at the Johan Cruyff Arena, although four of the last five games have produced draws.
FC Twente looking set to clinch a top-three spotThe visitors head into this game in third place in the Eredivisie, which would be enough to earn Joseph Oosting’s team a place in the Champions League play-off rounds for next season. Twente are currently eight points clear of fourth-place AZ.
Twente has been in decent recent form in the Eredivisie. Last time out, they won 2-0 at home against Fortuna Sittard, meaning the visitors have won five of the previous seven games in the Dutch top flight.
Their recent games have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in five of the last seven outings.
Twente have not been great travellers of late in the Eredivisie, having won just two of the previous seven away games in the Dutch top-flight.
What am I backing?This has the potential to be a highly entertaining encounter between two teams that tend to be involved in high-scoring games. Therefore, the bet I am backing is over 2.5 goals scored.