Saturday, May 14, 2011

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15.05. (Sun) 14:30 Ajax - Twente

DID YOU KNOW?

* Both of these sides also met in the KNVB Beker final last week. Marc Janko netted the winner for Twente in the closing stages of extra-time.

* Siem de Jong of Ajax will come up against his brother Luuk in Twente colours.

* Ajax have conceded just 29 Eredivisie goals this season and have the best defensive record of all clubs from the Dutch top tier.

* The Godenzonen last won the Eredivisie in 2004 when they beat PSV to the penalty.

* Mounir el Hamdaoui is Ajax's leading goalscorer in the league with 13 goals.

* The Amsterdam side have used 31 different players so far this season.

* Twente have lost only four league games so far in the 2010-11 campaign.

* The Tukkers will clinch their first double in history if they get at least a draw on Sunday.

* The Enschede side have so far used 29 different players this league campaign.

* Marc Janko is Twente's leading goalscorers in the league with 14 goals.

* Young winger Nacer Chadli is the Twente player with the most league appearances this term. The attacker has played 32 games.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Ajax (4-3-3)
Vermeer; Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Boilesen; De Zeeuw, Eriksen, Anita; Sulejmani, S. De Jong, Ebecilio.

Frank de Boer will have to make do without the services of first choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in De Kuip, but has a more than capable back-up available in Kenneth Vermeer. Swedish midfielder Rasmus Lindgren and tricky attacker Mounir el Hamdaoui will also miss the game. Defenders Gregory van der Wiel and Toby Alderweireld have both recovered in time from minor knocks.

Twente (4-3-3)
Boschker; Rosales, Wisgerhof, Douglas, Buysse; Landzaat, Brama, Janssen; Ruiz, L. De Jong, Chadli.

Head coach Michel Preud'homme doesn't have too many injury worries and will be able to field what can be considered to be his best XI. Young full-back Nicky Kuiper and USA international Oguchi Onyewu are probably the most notable absentees. Right-back Roberto Rosales missed last week's KNVB Beker final, but is expected to feature on Sunday.

Prediction
Ajax desperately need the full three points on Sunday if they are to clinch the league title, but the Amsterdam side face a tough task to break through the Twente defence. The Tukkers are one of the few Eredivisie teams that are capable of playing for a draw if that is what is needed and head coach Michel Preud'homme will make sure his side is well organized at the back.

Ajax 0-0 Twente