Feyenoord and Ajax, first and second in the Eredivisie with seven games remaining, will meet in the KNVB Beker semi-finals on Wednesday at De Kuip.
Team Form
Feyenoord
Feyenoord, a Rotterdam-based team, is on track to win the Netherlands’ top football league, and they recently secured a crucial 3-1 away win against local rivals Sparta Rotterdam.
This victory has taken them eight points clear at the top of the table, making them strong contenders for the title.
Feyenoord has had an impressive season so far, having also beaten Ajax, their main rivals, 3-2 just before the international break. With a current unbeaten streak of 20 matches and seven consecutive wins in the league, they are in a very strong position to win some silverware this year.
It is worth noting that Feyenoord has yet to be the favorite to win the league in recent years, as other teams have dominated Dutch football. However, they are starting as favorites this year, and their recent form suggests they have every chance of winning the title.
Feyenoord Form (All Competitions): D W W W W
Ajax
Ajax is currently in second place in the league table and was hoping to gain ground on the leaders by beating Go Ahead Eagles. However, they ended up with a goalless draw.
As a result of their disappointing performance, they’ve slipped further behind the league leaders, who they will face in an upcoming match. They also face tough games against PSV and Twente and will host AZ before the season’s end. These matches will be crucial in determining whether they qualify for the Champions League.
In addition to their league struggles, the team has been knocked out of the Champions League and Europa League. Their best chance of salvaging some silverware this season is through the KNVB Beker.
It’s been a challenging season for this team, with their former coach being sacked halfway through due to their underperformance. While they still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League and winning the KNVB Beker, it will take a lot of work.
Ajax Form (All Competitions): W W W L D
Squad Report
Feyenoord
Oussama Idrissi is now available for selection after serving a suspension. He could feature on the left flank in the upcoming match.
Justin Bijlow, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, is still unavailable due to a fractured wrist. As a result, his replacement will continue to deputize him.
Ajax
Steven Bergwijn, the team’s forward, withdrew from the Netherlands squad due to an injury. However, he made a brief appearance from the bench in the last game and is now expected to be fit enough to start in the upcoming match.
Feyenoord’s expected starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Szymanski, Kokcu; Jahanbakhsh, Gimenez, Idrissi
Ajax’s expected starting lineup:
Rulli; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Wijndal; Berghuis, Alvarez, Taylor; Kudus, Tadic, Bergwijn
Head to Head
This will be the 202nd meeting between the two teams, with the first match in 1921. Ajax currently leads the overall head-to-head record with 92 wins to Feyenoord’s 60.
In the KNVB Cup, the teams faced each other 17 times, with each team winning eight times. Interestingly, two cup meetings have been in the finals, with one win for each team.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Wednesday, April 05
Time: 06:00 pm, UTC
Venue: De Kuip, Feyenoord
Prediction
Feyenoord has been in excellent form in front of goal recently, scoring 15 goals in their last four matches. With various players contributing to their goal-scoring efforts, they will likely find the net at least once in front of their home fans.
Meanwhile, Ajax has struggled to find consistency in their play, leaving them vulnerable against an in-form Feyenoord side. With the momentum on their side, Feyenoord will be looking to secure a second win over Ajax in just a few weeks, which would see them through to the final.
