The Eredivisie will return from its winter break this weekend as AFC Ajax Amsterdam and Waalwijk battle for three points in a matchday 18 clash on Saturday (January 11th). The game will be played at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The home side have not been in action since claiming a 2-0 away win over Sparta Rotterdam before the break in December 2024. Kenneth Taylor broke the deadlock from the spot in the 77th minute while Bertrand Traore made sure of the result in the 87th minute.
Waalwijk, meanwhile, had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to Zwolle. They went ahead through Oskar Zawada's 10th-minute strike while Dylan Vente equalized with a 41st-minute penalty.
The stalemate left them at the foot of the standings, having garnered just seven points from 17 games. Ajax are second on 39 points.
Ajax have overcome a poor start to the season and have closed the gap on table-toppers PSV. Francesco Farioli's side are now just six points behind the defending champions in a title race that seemed out of their reach a few months ago. The capital side will be expected to claim maximum points against the division's worst side.
Waalwijk are the heavy favorites to be relegated at the end of the season and are seven points away from safety. They have managed just one win in the league all season long.
We are backing the hosts to cruise to a comfortable victory with goals at both ends.
Prediction: AFC Ajax Amsterdam 4-1 Waalwijk
Tip 1 - AFC Ajax Amsterdam to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Highest scoring half: Second half
Tip 5 - Ajax to score over 1.5 goals