The semi-final in the Cup in the Netherlands is on the program and on Wednesday Utrecht receives the favorite Ajax Amsterdam. In the Galgenwaard stadium, the surprise should succeed.
And Utrecht has very good hopes, because the guests have struggled recently. Everything is not going according to plan for the team of coach Erik ten Hag and Utrecht is always good for a surprise at home. The quality of the guests is undisputed. Only the balance between offensive and defensive is currently not appropriate.
Utrecht:
Utrecht is currently sixth in the Dutch Eredivisie and has only lost one of the last five competitive matches. Nevertheless, Utrecht vs. Ajax Amsterdam’s odds are not very good if you keep up with the host.
This is mainly due to the individual superiority on the part of Ajax. But Utrecht has some qualities that could be important for the game against the current champions.
Firstly, there is the high quality of counters. Ramselaar and Lonwijk are two technically well-versed players in the team, Gyrano Kerk is an extremely fast winger and striker Bahebeck, who has a PSG past, also has good qualities in the final.
And even if the last game against Waalwijk was lost 1: 2: The hosts are confident that they can hurt Ajax, especially if it goes quickly.
But back to the strengths of the home side! With ten goals and seven assists, the winger Kerk already mentioned shows impressively what qualities he has. If he is used well, he could become the key player.
Another factor is home strength. Almost two points were scored at home in the league on average, the record there is significantly better than abroad. The biggest problem for the host could be the defensive, which is vulnerable at certain points. Because games to zero are rare.
Substitute goalkeeper Maarten Paes will be out, as will central defender and captain Willem Janssen. Attacking player Adrian Dalmau also has to pass, but can be replaced.
Ajax Amsterdam:
Ajax Amsterdam is not in good shape. You couldn’t say that about the team of coach Erik ten Hag for a long time. But it is the truth. From the Europa League they said goodbye to Getafe, in the league two games in a row were lost.
The weekend’s defeat by Alkmaar means that Ajax Amsterdam have to seriously fear for the championship title in the Eredivisie. The team is still leading the table, but Alkmaar is now tied, has one run and fewer staff worries than the industry leader.
With the last results, the leaders of the table take some pressure into the cup game near Utrecht. Nevertheless: Before the game Utrecht vs. Ajax Amsterdam’s betting odds for an away win are very good – at least if you keep it with the guests.
The enormous quality that this team can bring to the field speaks for Ajax Amsterdam. But you didn’t score in the last two league games, the offensive was slow at times, defensive there were too many mistakes, already in the build-up.
The top favorite on the title must go back to the roots and act faster again, but also think faster. Because the problems are already beginning in the head.
Erik ten Hag is unable to form his team from highly talented players into one unit. It was foreseeable that there would be minor phases of weakness – and there is nothing more. A defeat in the cup would be a clear warning and would confirm the trend of the past few weeks.
Ten Hag will have appealed to the team because he could not change many elements in training. A fresh wind in Utrecht could therefore be the method of choice. The young Gravenberch could replace Eiting, Edson Alvarez is a candidate for the defense and even old champion Huntelaar can hope for an assignment.
David Neres, Joel Veltman, Noussair Mazraoui and Zakaria Labyad will definitely be out.
PREDICTION: Ajax to win @ 1,67
