Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
After surviving Fortuna Sittard at the weekend, Ajax will be looking to cement top position in the Eredivisie standings when they host Willem II at their Johan Cruijff Arena on Matchday 19. The Amsterdammers are eyeing their fifth consecutive win in all competitions, and bookies see them as hot favourites to win the midweek clash. Ajax are a real force to be reckoned with at home, and we are positive that they will record yet another routine win on Thursday evening.
January signing Haller, who scored the winner in the triumph over Fortuna Sittard, will be the man to keep an eye on in the home team. Willem II, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-1 loss to Zwolle, which is yet another reason why we are tempted to put our money on the reigning champions.
Highlighted Player (Daley Blind):
Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 9, 1990, Daley Blind is a professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Ajax. Blind is a product of the famous football school, and he made his debut with the Amsterdammers on December 7, 2018, against Volendam.
After a short loan spell with Groningen, Daley Blind join Premier League giants Manchester United for a fee of £13.8 million in August, 2014. After scoring four goals in 90 league appearances for the Red Devils, the Dutch footballer returned to Ajax in the summer of 2018. Speaking of his international career, Daley Blind made his Netherlands debut on February 6, 2013 in a 1-1 draw with Italy.
The following year the left-footed footballer represented Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup. He opened his goal-scoring account with the Oranje in a 3-0 loss to Brazil in the third-place play-off. As for his personal life, it has to be noted that Daley Blind is the son of the former Ajax defenders and the Netherlands boss Danny Blind.
Highlighted Team (Willem II):
Based in Tilburg, Netherlands, Willem II is a professional football club that competes in the Eredivisie. The Tricolores were founded back in August 1896 under the name of Tilburgia, but the club’s first big success came in the 1915/16 season when they won the national championship.
Willem II repeated the success in the 1951/52 Eredivisie campaign, with the team winning their third domestic trophy three years later. When it comes to KNVB Cup, the Tricolores have won it on two occasions (1943/44, 1962/63). Willem II are well known for their white shirts with red and blue strips, while their away kit is mainly mint with dark navy accents.
The Tricolores play home matches at Koning Willem II Stadion, the venue with the capacity of 14,700 spectators. Willem II have fierce rivals in Nac Breda, as the cities of Breda and Tilburg are only 20 kilometers apart. Former Barcelona and Arsenal star Marc Overmars is one of the most notable footballers who played for the club.