Preview: Ajax vs. Almere City - prediction, team news, lineups

Ajax play host to Almere City on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that may be enough to secure fifth position in the Eredivisie standings.

Meanwhile, the visitors head to Amsterdam looking to end their outstanding campaign on a high having already avoided relegation back to the second tier.

Match preview

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Whichever way you assess Ajax's season, the general consensus will be that it has been a disaster, yet there are signs that the storm clouds are finally lifting.

Feyenoord's KNVB Beker success means that fifth place now secures a Europa League qualifying spot, and Ajax can achieve that with wins over Almere City and bottom-placed Vitesse.

Recording maximum points from those two fixtures is far from a certainty. John van't Schip's side have prevailed just four times in 13 Eredivisie fixtures since the start of February.

However, recording a 4-1 victory over FC Volendam last time out made it seven points from three matches in a run that also includes a triumph over third-placed Twente.

Clean sheets remain an issue - Ajax have not kept any in eight outings - yet they have scored 69 goals in 32 matches and remain with the third-best attacking record in the division.

As for Almere City, they are on a peculiar run of having not won in 10 matches yet are more than satisfied with their efforts this campaign.

After coming through last season's Eerste Divisie playoffs, the Black Sheep were favourites for relegation, yet they sit in 13th position and eight points clear of the bottom three with two matches left.

Despite their last success coming back on February 17, Almere City's seven draws since then have ensured that they have always kept themselves out of trouble.

Alex Pastoor will now hope that one of the minnows of the division can replicate their performance against Ajax from in the reverse fixture, where they scored a last-gasp penalty to claim a 2-2 draw.

Team News

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Barring any injury issues, it appears likely that Van't Schip will select the same Ajax XI from the win over Volendam.

Jordan Henderson came through 81 minutes in his first appearance since the middle of March, while Steven Berghuis got 18 minutes from the substitutes' bench after being sidelined since February.

Benjamin Tahirovic is available again after suspension but will likely have to begin the game among the replacements.

Almere City will have to make do without Peer Koopmeiners after his late red card against Heerenveen last time out.

Alvaro Pena could be provided with a recall in his place, but Pastoor could opt to stick with the remainder of the first XI with the likes of Danny Post and Yann Kitala still on the sidelines.

Ajax possible starting lineup: Rulli; Rensch, Sutalo, Kaplan, Hato; Henderson, Mannsverk, Taylor; Akpom, Brobbey, Godts

Almere City possible starting lineup: Bakker; Akujobi, Van Bruggen, Barbet, Floranus; Kamp, Resink, Pena, Cathline; Hansen, Robinet

We say: Ajax 3-1 Almere City

While Almere City have done an effective job of staying up, they are facing an Ajax side that are motivated to finish strongly. With that in mind, we expect the hosts to extend their unbeaten run to four matches with a convincing victory.

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