Ajax vs Willem II - Eredivisie

Ajax prepare to host Willem II at the home ground on September 15, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Eredivisie season. Why Manchester United face transfer dilemma with unexpected star of pre-season.

The standings add context to the occasion — Ajax occupying 5th, Willem II perched in 17th — and the gap between them shapes the narrative. Confidence is coursing through the home camp, with W in their last five and a season win rate of 60% underscoring their momentum. The visitors have found the going tough on their travels, D in their last five and a win rate of just 0% telling its own story. The contrast in attacking output — 2.8 versus 1 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers struggled to find her rhythm, going 5-for-13 for 15 points in the loss.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Ajax will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Willem II must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. They are sticking to the principles of possession and pressing that have taken them from the fourth tier.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman S. Tengstedt — 5 goals this term — will be one to watch. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Manchester United have been warned about selling Marcus Rashford to a Premier League rival this summer, as uncertainty remains over the forward's future.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. Backed by home advantage and superior form, Ajax ought to prevail — a 3-1 victory looks the logical call. Whatever the outcome, the Eredivisie fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.