Ajax vs Nijmegen

The last game of Matchday 32 in the Eredivisie is set to begin at Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday when Ajax and NEC Nijmegen clash in the top event of the racing schedule.

If Ajax were to win their next game against NEC Nijmegen and see PSV losing to FF Feyenoord before them, they could announce the league title this weekend.

Although he had had some frustrating campaigns, Francesco Farioli masterminded a sensational turnaround that leaves Ajax only one victory away from the 29th Eredivisie title in their history.

De Godenzonen have suffered recently as they just gained one point from the last two games and that has chipped off their nine goal advantage to four as the season meanders towards its end.

The last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sparta Rotterdam was the first time this season that Ajax has failed to win two consecutive league matches in a row since December last year.

For all their desire to win, the point scored by the hosts maintained their unblemished record at the Johan Cruijff ArenA and for that reason they are well placed to return to winning ways this upcoming weekend.

NEC last defeated Ajax over two years ago at Goffertstadion and since then Ajax have not lost to their opponent in any of the 29 previous matches they have played together in all the competitions going back to 2005.

However, NEC who finished the previous season sixth with 53 points have lost a lot of points this term with 34 points and 13th in league table.

The Nijmegen team has only won two of its past 12 games since mid-January (W2 D5 L5) after playing to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against relegation contenders Willem II last week.

The primary cause of Rogier Meijer's team's decline this season has been a decline in their attacking production; at this point in the season, they had only scored 43 goals, compared to 61 goals at this time last year.

The visitors have only won one of their previous six league away games and have failed to score in four of their last five, which indicates that they will probably find it difficult to gain anything from this game.

Branco van den Boomen (muscle), Youri Baas (groin), and longtime absentee Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen (ankle) are the three players that Ajax will be without due to injury this week.

Vito van Crooij, who missed last week's game against Willem II because of a suspension, will return to support NEC and is probably going to start in midfield this time.

Dirk Proper is a serious doubt after being pulled due to a knock in the first half last week, and Kas De Wit and Bram Nuytinck are all now out due to injury, so the visitors will be missing two players on this trip to Amsterdam.