Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Ajax and Fortuna Sittard face each other in a David-vs-Goliath game at Johan Cruijff Arena. The Amsterdammers did well to beat Feyenoord in De Klassieker at the weekend, with the team quickly bouncing back from a 2-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar. The title holders are eager to overtake PSV in top position, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Fortuna. Lisandro Martinez, who suffered an injury in the Eredivisie derby, is unlikely to feature in the midweek clash.
The visitors, on the other hand, played out a 2-2 draw with Utrecht in their last league fixture. Fortuna Sittard are eager to escape the relegation zone, but seeing that Ajax are brimming with confidence following the triumph over Feyenoord, anything but a routine home win would be a major surprise. Sjors Ultee has no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Amsterdam.
Highlighted Player (Steven Berghuis):
Born in Apeldoorn, Netherlands on December 19, 1991, Steven Berghuis is a Dutch winger who plays for Ajax in the Eredivisie. Berghuis played for the likes of Vitesse/AGOVV, WSV Apeldoorn, and Go Ahead Eagles during his youth career before joining Twente in 2009.
The 183-cm-tall footballer continued playing for the Reds at senior level. After ending his loan spell with VVV-Venlo, Steven Berghuis joined AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2012, and three years later signed a deal with the Premier League club Watford. After making no more than nine appearances in the English top flight, Berghuis moved to Feyenoord in August 2016, and he has been playing De club aan de Maas ever since.
His main position is right winger, but he is capable of producing fine displays as both left winger and attacking midfielder as well. He made his Netherlands debut on May 27, 2016 in a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
Highlighted Team (Sittard):
Fortuna Sittard is one of the newer additions to Dutch football as the club was founded on July 1, 1968. During the 1990s talented footballers such as Kevin Hofland, Mark van Bommel, and Fernando Ricksen played for the club, but they failed to close the gap between Dutch giants Ajax and PSV. In 1999, though, the Fortunezen did well to make it to the Dutch Cup final, with the team facing Ajax in the title game.
Amsterdammers defeated Fortuna Sittard 2-0 at De Kuip, with Jesper Gronkjaer scoring a brace. Fortuna Sittard players wear yellow shirts and green shorts when playing at home, while their away kit is white. The Fortunezen host their rivals at Fortuna Sittard Stadion. The venue was built in 1999, and it can hold up to 12,500 spectators.
Aforementioned midfielder Mark Van Bommel is the most notable footballer who played for the club. After ending his spell with Fortuna Sittard in 1999, Mark van Bommel played for the likes of PSV, Barcelona, Bayern Munchen, and Milan.