The biggest fixture in the Dutch football calendar takes place on Sunday as Ajax host Feyenoord at the Amsterdam ArenA.
Both sides head into the De Klassieker on the back of midweek defeats, with Ajax going down to Chelsea and Feyenoord losing at Young Boys.
Match preview
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Following PSV Eindhoven's defeat to FC Utrecht last weekend, Ajax are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Eredivisie and hold a three-point lead at the top of the table.
Last year's semi-finalists had also started well in the Champions League before being dealt a first loss of the season in all competitions by Frank Lampard's Blues on Wednesday.
Michy Batshuayi's goal for Chelsea ended Ajax's 100% home record this campaign, with their previous defeat at the Amsterdam ArenA also coming at the hands of Premier League opposition, memorably Tottenham Hotspur's second-half comeback in the final four of Europe's premier club competition last season.
However, Erik ten Hag's side remain peerless at home in domestic action having strung 12 home league victories together, and they have scored at least two goals in each of those wins.
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Losing Matthjis de Light and Frenkie de Jong at the end of last season is yet to catch up with the Dutch champions, with the experienced Joel Veltman having stepped in at centre-back and new signing Lisandro Martinez having made a surprising impact in holding midfield despite playing mostly as a defender in Argentina.
Arguably their shrewdest bit of summer business though was bringing back Quincy Promes, who has started his second spell at Ajax with six goals in nine league appearances.
Feyenoord have endured a slow start to life under Jaap Stam, the former Ajax defender who swapped Reading for Rotterdam in the summer.
The visitors to the Dutch capital this weekend have only won three of their opening 10 games and drew at home to Heracles last time out to fall to 10th in the table.
The 15-time Eredivisie title winners did beat Ajax 6-2 at home last season but it is 14 years since they triumphed over their biggest rivals on their own patch.
Ajax form: WWWWL
Feyenoord form: WWLDL
Team News
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David Neres and Klaas Jan Huntelaar may again have to settle for places on the bench because of the form of Ajax's front three. Promes, Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic have combined for 22 goals and 21 assists in all competitions this season.
Nicolas Tagliafico is expected to be recalled following his domestic suspension, with Martinez returning to midfield and Noussair Mazraoui dropping to the bench after deputising for the Argentine full-back in the 2-1 victory over RKC Waalwijk.
Ten Hag has no new injury problems so could field the same XI as he did against Chelsea, while Stam also has a fully-fit squad to choose from aside from the absence of defender Sven van Beek, who is still sidelined by a serious ankle concern.
Steven Berghuis presents the main attacking threat for Feyenoord and has seven goals in all competitions this season. Luciano Narsingh is pushing for a start, but the ex-Swansea City winger has been better in cameo appearances so far this term.
Ajax possible starting lineup: Onana; Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Martinez; Ziyech, Van de Beek, Promes; Tadic
Feyenoord possible starting lineup: Vermeer; Karadop, Ie, Botteghin, Hape; Toornatra, Tapia, Fer; Berghuis, Larsson, Siniaterra
We say: Ajax 3-1 Feyenoord
De Klassieker can usually be relied upon for entertainment, with five of the last six games seeing at least three goals scored.
Ajax are formidable hosts, have much greater firepower, and Stam has not got it right at either end of the field yet so expect a home win.
Joe Fish
