Excelsior
VS
Ajax
Excelsior vs Ajax : Netherlands: Eredivisie
Match Preview & Analysis
Eredivisie Showdown: Excelsior Hosts Ajax in Crucial Sunday Clash
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter in the Netherlands' top division as Excelsior welcomes Ajax to the Stadion Woudestein on Sunday, 01 February 2026. With the season heating up, both teams are looking to secure vital points to boost their standings. Excelsior, despite their inconsistent form, will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and cause an upset against one of the league's powerhouses. Meanwhile, Ajax will be seeking to bounce back from recent setbacks and reaffirm their dominance in the Eredivisie. The stakes are high, and the match promises to be an intense and closely contested affair.
Match Details
- Competition: Netherlands - Eredivisie
- Venue: Stadion Woudestein, Rotterdam
- Kick-off: Sunday, 01 February 2026 • 11:15 UTC
- Referee: M. Nagtegaal
Current Form
Excelsior's recent form has been a mixed bag, with the team struggling to find consistency. Their last few matches have seen them alternate between wins, losses, and draws, with a record of LLLWLWLLWLDLWWLWLDDD. This unpredictability makes them a difficult team to prepare for, as they are capable of pulling off surprise victories on their day. On the other hand, Ajax has been relatively stable, boasting an impressive away record of WDWDWDWDLWDLLWWWDWDW. However, their recent performances have been marred by injuries and inconsistencies, which they will need to address to get back to their dominant self.Team News & Predicted Lineups
Excelsior will be without the services of M. van Duinen, who is questionable due to an injury. Despite this setback, the team is expected to lineup in a 4-3-3 formation, with their predicted XI consisting of their regular starters. As for Ajax, the team will be missing K. Itakura due to an injury, while S. Berghuis is questionable with a groin injury. Ajax is likely to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their predicted XI featuring a mix of experienced players and young talents.Head-to-Head
The head-to-head history between Excelsior and Ajax is an interesting one, with the two teams having faced each other on numerous occasions. In their last meeting, Excelsior pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Ajax, which will undoubtedly give them confidence heading into this encounter. However, Ajax has historically been the dominant side in this fixture, and they will be seeking to reassert their authority on Sunday.Tactical Analysis
Given Excelsior's tendency to deploy a low block, Ajax may look to exploit their wings to break down the hosts' defense. The visitors' pacy wingers will be crucial in this regard, as they will need to provide the width and delivery to stretch Excelsior's backline. On the other hand, Excelsior may look to catch Ajax on the counter, using their pacey forwards to exploit any gaps in the Ajax defense. The battle between these two approaches will be fascinating to watch, with the outcome of the match potentially hanging in the balance.Match Prediction
Despite Excelsior's home advantage and recent upset over Ajax, the visitors are still the favorites to win this encounter. With their superior squad depth and quality, Ajax should be able to overcome any challenges posed by the hosts. However, given Excelsior's unpredictable nature, a draw is also a plausible outcome. Therefore, a double chance bet on either a draw or an Ajax win seems like a prudent prediction. As for the score, a closely contested 1-1 or 2-1 victory for Ajax is a likely possibility, although Excelsior's ability to pull off an upset cannot be ruled out entirely.Team Form
Excelsior
WLDDD
Last 5: LLLWLWLLWLDLWWLWLDDD
Ajax
WDWDW
Last 5: WDWDWDWDLWDLLWWWDWDW
Head to Head
Last result: Ajax 1 - 2 Excelsior
Match Predictions
🏆 Winner: Ajax (Win or draw)
⚽ Goals: -2.5
🎯 Advice: Double chance : draw or Ajax