SC Heerenveen to take on AFC Ajax Amsterdam on Sunday – Dutch Eredivisie preview
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AFC-Ajax-c38228 Amsterdam at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday, May 1, 2011.
SC Heerenveen
The Heerenveen outfit were utterly disappointed with their recent performance, as they were unable to secure all three points against the relegation contenders VVV-Venlo. The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate and the outfit from Friesland lost two crucial points
in the race for a UEFA Europa League play-offs berth.
Heerenveen are currently placed 11th in the League table, trailing the last Europa League play-offs spot by 4 points. With 6 points up for grabs in the season, Europe’s secondary club competition play-offs berth looks very unlikely.
The outfit from Friesland has played erratically throughout the ongoing 2010-11 season. However, they have played better football in front of their home crowd, winning 8 of their 16 fixtures at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. From the 32 matches they have played,
they have won 10, lost 12 while drew the remaining 10.
Heerenveen manager Ron Jans is confident that his side will secure maximum points in the remaining encounters and finish amongst the top ten Eredivisie sides.
AFC Ajax Amsterdam
The Amsterdammers are coming into the match on the back of a superb performance against the relegation contenders SBV Excelsior at the Amsterdam Arena recently, when they thrashed the visitors 4-1 in their own backyard.
The De Joden are currently placed second in the League table, trailing the League leaders http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 Enschede by a solitary point. With only two matches left to play, the Amsterdammers are looking the favourites to lift the Eredivisie title.
The outfit from Amsterdam have played good football this season, but have played superbly in the recent weeks. They have achieved good results on the road, losing only thrice from their 16 matches played away from their home turf. They have an overall record
of 32 played, 20 won, 7 drawn and 5 lost.
Amsterdammers’ manager Frank de Boer is optimistic that his men will lift the Eredivisie title at the end of season. Boer knows that if his side manages to secure all points from both of their remaining encounters, they will certainly become Dutch champions.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bas-Dost-c7339 – SC Heerenveen
The 21-year-old striker is the top goal scorer for his side, scoring 13 goals in 30 appearances. He will be looking to add more to his tally in the upcoming encounter and play an important role to secure a point or more for his side.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mounir-El-Hamdaoui-c26905 – AFC Ajax Amsterdam
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Morocco-c2961 international has been in good goal scoring form this season, scoring 13 goals from his 26 appearances. He will put constant pressure on the home side back-line with his strikes. It will be hard for the Heerenveen defenders to restrict him from
finding the back of the net.
Head-to-head statistics
The Amsterdammers have won three of their last five matches against the Heerenveen outfit while the outfit from Friesland emerged victorious in the remaining two.
Prediction
It will be a tough encounter between the two sides, as both sides would be gunning to bag all three points. However, Ajax remains the favourites to win the match as they have more match winners than Heerenveen. It will be a hard fought 2-1 win in favour
of the visitors.
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