Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Utrecht
Match Time & Date:
16/01/2022
12:15
Prediction: 2-2
Ajax
All eyes will be on Stadion Galgenwaard when Utrecht and Ajax face each other in the Eredivisie derby on Sunday morning. Utrecht played out a 1-1 draw with Twente before the New Year break, with the team extending their winless run in all competitions to five games. The good news for the hosts is that Willem Janssen is back from suspension, while Greece international Anastasios Douvikas should continue to lead the line for the hosts.
The title holders, on the other hand, are eager to overtake PSV in top position, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Rene Hake’s troops. Mohammed Kudus is on international duty with Ghana, with Sebastien Haller and Andre Onana taking part at the Africa Cup of Nations as well. Anyhow, we are not tempted to put our money on Ajax as Utrecht are tough to beat at home ground.
Highlighted Player (Willem Janssen):
After starting his senior career at VVV-Venlo, Willem Janssen joined fellow Dutch club Roda JC in 2007. The 186-cm-tall centre-back scored 22 goals in 129 appearances for the Black and Yellows in the Eredivisie, and in 2011 he moved to Twente.
After ending his loan spell with Utrecht in 2014, he signed a permanent deal with the Stadion Galgenwaard outfit, and he has been playing for the club ever since. He scored his first league goal for Utrecht in a 1-1 draw with Zwolle on September 1, 2013. Willem Janseen was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands on July 4, 1986, but he has yet to earn a call-up for the national team. Janssen, though, has two caps with the Netherlands U21 team.
His main position is centre-back, but he is used as both defensive midfielder and central midfielder as well. His preferred foot is right. In the 2015/16 season he helped Utrecht make it to the Dutch Cup final, but Feyenoord proved to be a big catch for them in the title game.
Highlighted Team (Ajax):
Ajax is a Dutch football club that was founded on 18 March, 1900. Ajax are well known for their youth academy, which regarded as one of the best youth football schools in the world. The likes of Johan Cruijff, Edwin van der Sar, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Rafael van der Vaart and Marco van Basten are all products of Ajax’s football academy. The Amsterdammers share a big rivalry with Feyenoord and there have always been fireworks when the two teams face each other in De Klassieker.
During the seventies Feyenoord and Ajax were the only two teams who were capable of winning the domestic trophies, while PSV have been playing an important role in Dutch football in the 21st century. PSV and Ajax are regarded as big rivals as well and the two teams square off against each other in De Topper. Ajax play their home games at Amsterdam ArenA, the stadium that was opened on 14 August, 1996. The Amsterdammers won their fourth European Cup (Champions League) trophy in 1995, beating Milan in the title game in Vienna.
