Preview:FC Volendam vs Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Volendam will be aiming to pick up their first win of the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign when they welcome Ajax at the Kras Stadium this Saturday.

The visitors have made an unbeaten start to the season under new manager Johnny Heitinga, but they need to continue winning games to avoid falling too far behind in the title race.

Match preview

Since returning to top-flight football, the Other Oranje are winless in their opening three matches, but Rick Kruys’s side will not mind if they can secure a point on Saturday in the north Holland derby.

Volendam started their new season with a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen away from home, before drawing 2-2 against AZ Alkmaar.

They showed great fighting spirit in the previous game and came from 2-0 down to secure a four-goal stalemate, with both strikes coming in the second half from Anthony Descotte.

Kruys will be happy with the fact that his side have responded well every time they have fallen behind, but at the same time, the Dutch manager should be worried about his side's leaky defence.

The two sides have faced each other 61 times in their history, with Ajax winning 42 of those games. They last met in May 2024, where the Palingboeren lost 4-1 against the Jews at their home turf.

After assisting Arne Slot at Liverpool last season, Heitinga decided to take charge at Ajax, and so far, the 41-year-old has ticked many boxes.

The Lancers were far from convincing in their 2-0 win over newly promoted Telstar in gameweek one, and it was followed by a 2-2 draw against Go Ahead Eagles.

Ajax returned to winning ways after beating Heracles 2-0 last week, but the overall performances and results need to improve, considering that defending champions PSV Eindhoven have made a perfect start to the season.

The Dutch giants have made five signings so far, and Heitinga is looking to add more bodies to the squad before the end of the window, with exciting Liverpool youngster James McConnell likely to arrive on loan.

FC Volendam Eredivisie form:

D D D

Ajax Eredivisie form:

W D W

Team News

Volendram central midfielder Gibson Yah picked up an injury during AZ, but he is now fully fit again and started in the previous game.

Centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba, who scored against AZ, also appeared to have picked up an injury, but he too returned to the starting lineup against Telstar.

Ko Itakura picked up an injury during the 2-2 draw at Go Ahead Eagles and did not make the matchday squad last week.

If the centre-back remains unavailable, he will join Bertrand Traore, Mika Godts, Aaron Bouwman and Branco van den Boomen on the treatment table.

Josip Sutalo and Brian Brobbey made the bench against Telstar after returning from injuries, and they could be in contention for starting roles.

FC Volendam possible starting lineup:

Van Oevelen; Payne, Mbuyamba, Amevor, Leliendal; Yah, Bukala; Oehlers, Muhren, Kokcu; Veerman

Ajax possible starting lineup:

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