Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Eredivisie match.
With a win in the upcoming match, Ajax will put pressure on PSV Eindhoven in the title race, narrowing the gap to four points. It's clear that Utrecht's surprising position in the top three is unlikely to allow them to seriously contend for Champions League and Europa League spots by February—their fixtures against favourites will likely see them return to mid-table.
Ajax
Over the last five rounds of the Eredivisie, Ajax have collected 13 points, which is the best tally alongside Twente. A significant achievement for them was the victory over PSV (3:2): at home, the Amsterdam side twice came from behind, and Mika Godts secured a deserved win late on (2.02-1.08 in xG). On Saturday, Ajax managed to win away at NEC Nijmegen (2:1) thanks to a brace from Wout Weghorst—Ajax didn't field their strongest lineup due to European commitments, but on Wednesday, they'll be at full strength.
Utrecht
Since 27 October, Utrecht have secured 9 out of a possible 15 points in the Eredivisie—a decent outcome for a former mid-table side, but they faltered in both major encounters. Against Feyenoord (0:2) and PSV (2:5), they conceded a total of 3.37 xGA—with Eindhoven taking eight shots on target on Sunday. Utrecht will visit Amsterdam without four key starters, whom they sorely need.
Ajax vs Utrecht Prediction
Since January 2022, Ajax have scored at least two goals in each of their five consecutive meetings against Utrecht. They are expected to comfortably defeat the upstarts and close in on PSV Eindhoven in the title race.
