Excelsior vs Ajax Prediction & Betting Tips - Eredivisie

Prediction published on 17/08/2023, 11:30  by Devesh Jaganath in Eredivisie Predictions

Excelsior and Ajax will look to keep their 100% league record intact when they face off in the Eredivisie on Saturday. The hosts are currently sixth in the table, while the visitors are in second place after matchday one. After earning promotion back to the top flight in the 2021-22 campaign, Excelsior managed to avoid relegation in their first season back, albeit by a slender margin. The hosts ended last season in 15th place and just four points above FC Emmen, who were eventually sent down after the relegation playoffs. Over the course of last season, Excelsior recorded nine wins, five draws, and 20 losses. They also had the second-worst defensive record in the league with 71 goals conceded, with only bottom club Groningen faring worse. Excelsior began this season in a promising fashion beating NEC in their opening match 4-3. Nikolas Agrafiotis, Casper Widell, and Efosa Richie Omorowa all scored inside regulation time before Oscar Uddenas got the all-important winner ten minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match. Still, based on their recent record against this opponent, it seems highly improbable that they will keep their winning record intact here, and they are currently showing up as 11/1 outsiders for this match. 

Meanwhile, Ajax will be determined to win back the Eredivisie title this season after relinquishing it for the first time in three seasons last term. The visitors ended the 2022-23 season in third place with 69 points, 13 behind the league winners Feyenoord and six off PSV in second place. Over the course of the season, Ajax recorded 20 wins, nine draws, and five losses while maintaining the second-best attacking and defensive records with 86 goals scored and just 38 conceded. They got the season off to the perfect start last week, overcoming Heracles 4-1 on opening day, which leaves them in second place in the early stages of the season. In 17 league games on the road last season, Ajax managed ten wins, four draws, and three losses, which was the third-best away record of any side in the Eredivisie. The visitors have been the vastly superior side in this contest over the years, winning their last six encounters, which included two 7-1 wins and a 6-2 victory in the last four meetings alone. They are heavily fancied to win this one as well.