Preview:Ajax vs. Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

Ajax return to the Johan Cruyff Arena in gameweek three of the Eredivisie season on Sunday, aiming to cause more misery for winless Heracles.

Having conceded twice in the previous weekend’s draw at Go Ahead Eagles, Johnny Heitinga’s team are back in Amsterdam, where they seek to defeat the visiting club that have shipped eight goals in two games so far.

Match preview

Ajax were far from convincing in their victory over newly promoted Telstar in gameweek one, but they were less fortunate in round two, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Go Ahead Eagles.

However, that result was probably not surprising, considering the Amsterdam-based club had won only one of their previous four visits to De Adelaarshorst, a statistic now revised to one victory in five trips.

Although the season is still in its early stages for the returning Heitinga, De Godenzonen’s performances and results need to improve to prevent falling too far behind in the title race, particularly given the perfect start made by free-scoring defending champions PSV Eindhoven.

Nevertheless, keen observers might point to the contrasting results in gameweeks one and two, which saw Ajax keep a clean sheet against promoted Telstar despite conceding 18 shots and allowing two goals after only nine, as further evidence not to reach hasty conclusions so early.

Most fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena will demand maximum points, considering that their team is on a five-match winning streak in this fixture and has not been beaten in the last five years since losing 1-0 in Almelo in March 2020.

New Heracles boss Bas Sibum has had a poor start for the Almelo-based club, conceding four goals in the opening game of the season at Utrecht in a 4-0 defeat and allowing as many in their 4-1 home loss against NEC.

Both setbacks have seen Heraclieden concede three goals in the final 30 minutes, with the 4-1 loss to NEC in Almelo coming after Sibum’s team went ahead after three minutes through Jizz Hornkamp, only for the centre-forward to be sent off 10 minutes later.

Leaving his teammates in the lurch was the worst outcome for Heracles and Sibum, whose team struggled for the rest of the game and conceded several big chances as their Nijmegen-based visitors pressed forward.

Following their second defeat, Heracles are among four clubs in the Eredivisie to have suffered back-to-back defeats at the start of 2025-26, and their poor goal difference (-7) leaves HAFC at the bottom of the standings.

It looks even bleaker for Heracles and their supporters, as they travel to Amsterdam on Sunday, aiming for a positive result at a ground where they have lost 4-0, 4-1, 3-0, 5-0 and 4-1 in their last five visits.

That statistic highlights Heraclieden’s struggles in this fixture, and they face an uphill battle despite Ajax's untrustworthy defence.

Ajax Eredivisie form:

Heracles Eredivisie form:

Team News

Ko Itakura will be evaluated before Sunday following an apparent injury sustained during last weekend's 2-2 draw at Go Ahead Eagles.

If the centre-back is unavailable, he would join Bertrand Traore, Josip Sutalo, Brian Brobbey, Mika Godts, Aaron Bouwman and Branco van den Boomen on the injury list.

Wout Weghorst, who failed to score last time out, demonstrated his dual threat by creating six chances for teammates, and the striker hopes for better luck on Sunday.

With Hornkamp receiving a red card in the 13th minute last weekend, Heracles head into gameweek three without their starting No. 9, suggesting Luka Kulenovic, who scored nine goals last season, will make his first start of 25-26.

Although Sibum’s team suffered no apparent injuries in gameweek two, the away side are expected to travel to Amsterdam without Mario Engels (hamstring), Jeff Reine-Adelaide (knee) and Sava-Arangel Cestic (ankle)

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Jaros; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Taylor, Mokio, Klaassen; Berghuis, Weghorst, Moro

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Keijzer; Wieckhoff, Mirani, Mesik, Kust; Zamburek, Scheperman; Limbombe, Gilst, Sanches; Kulenovic

We say: Ajax 3-1 Heracles

Although Ajax’s concession of chances suggests Heracles may score on Sunday, it is unlikely that Heitinga’s team will fail to secure maximum points, as De Godenzonen’s superior match-winning quality should be evident in the final score.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.