National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's AZ or Ajax that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither AZ nor Ajax as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
AZ form and stats
AZ was eliminated in the 8th finals last season in the KNVB Beker.AZ are steadily winning Eredivisie games and points here at AFAS Stadion. 9 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat is the summary from 12 games.
The AZ fans enjoyed the previous game, watching their team host Feyenoord and win 2-1. Karlsson (midfield was the top team player in that game with a rating of 8.2/10. Karlsson scored two goals, hit one key pass, dribled past the opponent 2 of 3 times and had 21 successful passes (of 24 total).
Previous to that game, a Eredivisie home match hosting Heracles Almelo in a game that was won 2-1.There will be little rest for AZ after this match as they are travelling to NEC for a Eredivisie game in only three days.
AZ can score goals in their home matches. After 12 league matches they have found the net 28 times.
Ajax form and stats
Nothing but glory last season for Ajax, as they won the KNVB Beker.Ajax have an excellent away record in the Eredivisie so far with 9-2-1 from 12 games.
It might be tough going out on the road again for Ajax, facing their second straight away game. Especially as the previous game, ended with a defeat 1-2 versus Go Ahead Eagles. Defender Martínez was the best team player with a rating of 8.32. Martínez hit three key passes and won 5 of 6 duels.
A quick return to home after this game, as Ajax are hosting RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie only three days away.
The Ajax manager Hag has got the team scoring on the road, with 25 away goals in 12 league matches. Ajax are tight as a drum on their travels, having allowed the opposition only 4 goals away.
Head 2 Head
Data for the preceeding ten meetings featuring these two participants are: four wins for AZ, zero draws and six wins for Ajax. Over 2,5 goals: five times; under 2,5 goals: five games.Top Goalscorers
  S. Haller 16 goals |   J. Karlsson 11 goals |  V. Pavlidis 10 goals |
AZ missing players
Ajax missing players
| AZ | Ajax | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 19 | 11 | Won | W | 9 | 19 | ||
| 4 | 2 | Drew | D | 2 | 3 | ||
| 2 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | ||
| 49 | 30 | Scored | S | 24 | 74 | ||
| 19 | 10 | Conceded | C | 7 | 12 | ||
| 92% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 72% | 77% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 75% | 80% | ||
| 56% | 62% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 58% | 72% | ||
| 28% | 38% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 48% | ||
| 20% | 31% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 32% | ||
| 60% | 69% | BTTS | BTTS | 42% | 28% | ||
| 32% | 31% | Clean Sheets | C S | 58% | 68% | ||
| 16% | 8% | Failed to Score | F T | 8% | 12% | ||
| 5.4 | 5.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.2 | 7.2 | ||
| 3.5 | 2.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.9 | 2.6 | ||
| 1.5 | 1.1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 13.1 | 14.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 16.2 | 19.1 | ||
| 5 | 5.6 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.4 | 7.4 | ||
| 40% | 41% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 37% | 40% | ||
| 9.3 | 6.6 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 10 | 7.6 | ||
| 3.1 | 2.3 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3 | 2.5 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Ajax | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 71 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 4 | 64 | 57 |
| 2 | PSV | 24 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 59 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 32 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 13 | 29 | 55 |
| 3 | Feyenoord | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 56 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 11 | 34 | 51 |
| 4 | AZ | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 47 | 28 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 48 |
| 5 | FC Twente | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 30 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 22 | 8 | 45 |
| 6 | Vitesse | 24 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 38 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 16 | -6 | 40 |
| 7 | FC Utrecht | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 31 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 11 | 39 |
| 8 | SC Cambuur | 24 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 41 | 51 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 25 | -10 | 33 |
| 9 | NEC | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 21 | -7 | 31 |
| 10 | FC Groningen | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 27 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 23 | -5 | 29 |
| 11 | Heracles Almelo | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 26 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 19 | -6 | 26 |
| 12 | Go Ahead Eagles | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 26 | 41 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 21 | -15 | 26 |
| 13 | SC Heerenveen | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 36 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -14 | 25 |
| 14 | RKC Waalwijk | 24 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 18 | -13 | 23 |
| 15 | Willem II | 24 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 21 | 43 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 25 | -22 | 21 |
| 16 | Fortuna Sittard | 23 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 52 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 29 | -27 | 19 |
| 17 | Sparta Rotterdam | 23 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 37 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 18 | -19 | 17 |
| 18 | PEC Zwolle | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 39 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 26 | -21 | 17 |
