Ajax v Excelsior: Eredivisie Prediction

Following the 5-1 victory over Willem II, everyone in Amsterdam and the surrounding area is walking with their chins up again. The smiles are back, whilst the football is, at times, a real treat to watch. This is certainly down to the presence of a player like Julian Brandt. Before the international break, Ajax face a home match against the in-form Excelsior.

Will Ajax be caught off guard at their own Johan Cruijff Arena? Or will Míchel Sanchez’s side pick up another three crucial points in the race for the league title? We’ll help you get started and give you our Ajax v Excelsior prediction.

Betting at Oranje Palace

New players at Oranje Palace receive 3 x €14 Free Bets: a Pre-match, Live and Bet Builder Free Bet. You can use these on the best matches in the Eredivisie, Premier League or any other league of your choice. Will you make the most of this golden opportunity and make betting on football at Oranje Palace even more fun?

Ajax v Excelsior preview

Last season, it was Noah Naujoks who plunged the capital of Amsterdam into mourning by inflicting a 1-2 defeat on Ajax. The Ajax squad now looks completely different and they appear to be a fair bit stronger. Here’s a brief look at both teams.

Current Form & Team News

Ajax

So far, Jordi Cruijff has proved himself right by giving ‘his’ Ajax a massive boost in quality. Julian Brandt is in outstanding form, whilst players such as Caio Henrique, Sofyan Amrabat and Victor Tsygankov are making their mark more and more. Meanwhile, Ajax signed Yves Bissouma last Wednesday. The Malian has played around 200 matches in the Premier League and thus brings a wealth of experience with him. However, we won’t see the powerful midfielder in action until after the international break. Will Ajax secure their third win in a row?

Excelsior

We could go on and on about it, but Excelsior have made an excellent start to the new season. After six matches, the Kralingers have ten points, putting them in a very impressive sixth place at the moment. In particular, the away wins against Willem II and SC Cambuur were top-class performances, especially as they managed to keep things tight at the back. Things did go wrong against FC Utrecht last weekend. After 90 minutes, the score was 1–1, but the Utrecht side struck late on to hand Excelsior a home defeat. Can they beat Ajax, just like they did last year?

Head-to-Head

It seems that Excelsior have become a real bogey team for Ajax. Whereas Ajax used to beat the Rotterdam side with ease, things have been a lot tougher over the last two seasons. In fact, Ajax have not won any of their last four matches against Excelsior. Will that change in the match on Saturday 19 September?

Predicted line-ups

Ajax (4-3-3):

Ter Stegen, Henrique, Baas, Kehrer, Gaaei, Amrabat, Mokio, Brandt, Gloukh, Tolu, Berghuis

Excelsior (4-1-4-1):

Van Gassel, Bos, Plug, Widell, Da Silva, Meissen, Thorsteinsson, Hartjes, Yegoian, Sliti, Garden

Ajax v Excelsior betting tips

Betting tip 1: Ajax to win & both teams to score

We expect Ajax to secure another victory in this match. Despite their difficult run against Excelsior and the fact that Excelsior are yet to lose an away match, we expect an Amsterdam victory. However, we do think Excelsior will find the net, just as they have done in their last 12(!) matches against Ajax. Ajax to win & both teams to score gives you odds of 2.12.

Betting tip 2: Julian Brandt to score a goal

It’s a joy to watch Julian Brandt in action. The German scored in the away match against Fortuna Sittard and at home against Willem II, proving he’s clearly in fine form. We’re therefore backing the playmaker to score again. A goal by Julian Brandt against Excelsior will earn you odds of 2.40.

Ajax v Excelsior prediction

Final score: Ajax 3–1 Excelsior
After four matches without a win against Excelsior, we expect Ajax to finally secure a victory again. The Amsterdam side seem to be scoring goals well again, although they do occasionally concede at the back. Partly for this reason, we expect a 3–1 win for the home side.