Almere City Vs Ajax

The Eredivisie's bottom-placed team will host the league leaders this Sunday, as Almere City takes on Ajax at Yanmar Stadion.

The visiting side has ascended to the top of the table with an impressive streak of eight consecutive league victories, while the hosts continue to struggle, sitting 10 points away from guaranteed safety from relegation.

Almere City returns to their home ground with hopes of revitalizing their survival campaign, which has been plagued by difficulties throughout the season. Known as De Zwarte Schapen, the team has languished in the automatic relegation zone for almost the entire campaign, managing to collect only 14 points from 23 matches. Their performance has been underwhelming, securing just three wins while suffering 15 defeats. Defensive frailties and attacking inefficiencies have exacerbated their plight, with no team in the league scoring fewer than their 15 goals or conceding more than their 47 goals against.

One of their rare triumphs came in early February when they edged out Utrecht on the road with a lone strike from Junior Kadile. However, any momentum gained from that victory was quickly lost, as Jeroen Rijsdijk's men have since failed to escape the foot of the standings. Their subsequent match against NEC ended in heartbreak, with a 2-2 draw that saw them surrender a late equalizer deep into stoppage time, courtesy of Vito van Crooij. This was especially painful considering Ricardo Visus and Hamdi Akujobi had earlier put them in a commanding position.

Despite some encouraging signs, Almere City endured another agonizing defeat in their latest encounter, traveling to face third-placed Feyenoord. An early goal from Charles-Andreas Brym gave them a promising start, but their hopes were dashed as Julian Carranza leveled the score before a dramatic late strike from David Hancko in the 91st minute handed all three points to the hosts.

While their recent performances have hinted at improvement, the results have yet to reflect it. They now sit six points adrift of the relegation playoff position and ten points from outright safety. A fourth league victory on Sunday would be crucial in boosting their hopes of escaping the drop, but securing it against a dominant Ajax side presents an enormous challenge.

The visitors, meanwhile, arrive in top form and intent on consolidating their position at the Eredivisie summit with another victory. Ajax, determined to reclaim the domestic crown they last won in 2022, have enjoyed a strong campaign. With 57 points from 23 matches, they boast the league's best defensive record, having conceded just 18 goals.

Their recent form has been nothing short of exceptional. Their current winning streak began in mid-December with a commanding 3-0 home victory over Almere City. Since then, they have netted 19 goals while conceding just twice, establishing themselves as the dominant force in the division.

Fresh off their hard-fought progression in the Europa League playoffs, where they edged out Union SG in extra time following a 2-2 aggregate scoreline, Francesco Farioli's squad returned to league duties last weekend. They further extended their advantage at the top by dispatching Go Ahead Eagles with a comfortable 2-0 home win. Brian Brobbey broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, and Oliver Edvardsen sealed the victory four minutes from time.

With momentum firmly on their side, Ajax has created a five-point cushion over second-placed PSV Eindhoven in recent weeks. They will be eager to maintain their relentless push towards the title and aim to complete a season double over Almere City, taking yet another crucial step toward reclaiming domestic supremacy.

While Almere City will be fighting for their survival, Ajax’s sights remain firmly set on extending their lead and ensuring they stay on course for Eredivisie glory. The visitors' confidence, form, and quality make them overwhelming favorites, but their hosts will be desperate to defy the odds and produce a performance that breathes new life into their campaign.