The new Eredivisie season begins this weekend, and PEC Zwolle will welcome AFC Ajax Amsterdam to MAC³PARK stadium for their top-flight match on Sunday. The home side will be looking to kick things off with an upset win over a team that traditionally dominates Dutch football.
PEC Zwolle ended the previous Eredivisie campaign with a sigh of relief after avoiding the relegation playoff spot, occupied by Volendam, by five points and one place.
Thanks for the submission!
Their 15th-place finish on 37 points confirmed their status in the top flight for this season, but they will be aiming to do far better in the 2026-27 campaign.
De Blauwvingers have not had the best preparation for the new season, with three of their four pre-season matches ending in losses, and a 3-2 win against Cercle Brugge standing out as their only positive result. Their most recent warm-up match was a disappointing 3-0 loss to Hannover last Saturday.
Meanwhile, AFC Ajax Amsterdam are desperate to get back to their traditional dominance of Dutch football, especially after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign in which they finished fifth in the Eredivisie standings with 56 points.
That placing earned them a UEFA Conference League qualification rather than their preferred Champions League or Europa League spot.
Ajax coach Michel will be pleased with his side’s efforts in pre-season, with friendly wins against English club Burnley and fellow Dutch side Volendam alongside competitive victories in Conference League qualifiers against Serbian club Vojvodina and Irish side Shelbourne.
De Godenzonen beat Shelbourne 3-1 in the first leg of their third-round Conference League qualifier on Thursday, with the second leg to come next Thursday.
Kasper Dolberg, Owen Wijndal, and Mika Godts were on target for Ajax, with the Irish side scoring a late goal through Daniel Kelly at Johan Cruijff Arena.
PEC Zwolle vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam head-to-head stats and key numbers
- Ajax have been dominant in the head-to-head record with Zwolle, securing 22 wins from their 30 previous meetings.
- Zwolle have beaten Ajax only three times, while five games have ended in draws.
- The most recent clash between PEC Zwolle and AFC Ajax Amsterdam took place in March this year and ended in a goalless draw at the MAC³PARK stadium in Zwolle.
- Zwolle won nine, drew 10, and lost 15 of their games in the Eredivisie last season.
- Ajax recorded 14 wins, 14 draws, and six losses in the Dutch top flight, with too many stalemates leading to their fifth-placed finish.
PEC Zwolle vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam prediction
Zwolle are likely to adopt a compact, disciplined defensive block, while looking to hit back on the counter when they see opportunities to do so.
Ajax, however, will maintain possession and work to keep the home side under pressure throughout the game, using the wide areas to spread the play and pin Zwolle back in their defensive posture.
We expect AFC Ajax Amsterdam to kick their Eredivisie campaign off on a high note.
Prediction: PEC Zwolle 1-2 AFC Ajax Amsterdam
PEC Zwolle vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam betting tips
Tip 1: AFC Ajax Amsterdam to win
Tip 2: Both teams to score
Tip 3: Over 2.5 goals
Edited by Peter Pedroncelli