There’s no getting away from this fixture, some are relishing it some are dreading it. Ajax has lost two trophies in two seasons to Zwolle surely revenge is in the air come Sunday right? Maybe see PSV, Ajax and Zwolle all sit level on 15 points top of the league so this game will be closer than many fans will predict writes Nathan Hyland.

Ajax almost at full strength Viktor Fischer is still out but Lasse Schöne expected to return after missing the last two league games one of the games was the 5-2 drubbing of NAC Breda where Kolbeinn Sigthorsson netted three and could of had four but decided to give the fan in row Z his hat-trick ball as he missed a penalty in dramatic fashion. Klaassen took it upon himself to be the creative spark with three assists.

Ricardo van Rhijn scored another to make that two in two for him and Joël Veltman bagging one. So strong going forward but the back is a cause for concern this week. After conceding two to an average NAC side they will really have to tighten the back up this Sunday. Veltman can sometimes be reckless flying into challenges and Nicolai Boilesen who tends to cancel out offside traps, concentration must be at 100% against a decent looking PEC Zwolle side.

Anwar El Ghazi I expect will be sacrificed for Lucas Andersen who is doing a great job so far even scoring the goal in the 1-1 draw with APOEL on Tuesday. I predict a front three partnership of Andersen/Sigthorsson/Schone looking to pull the Zwolle defence left and right and no doubt using Sigthorsson aerial prowess.

Fun fact: Ajax has won the last four home matches against Zwolle in the league.

Zwolle coach Ron Jans could have a headache when it’s time to select the team, up to five players missing come Sunday. Kevin Begois, Leroy Labylle, Thanasis Karagounis and former Ajax kid Jody Lukoki are all absent from this match.

Last game PEC won 4-2 against bottom side Heracles and prior to the cup game against FC Oss lost 1-0 to AZ Alkmaar. Despite that defeat, Zwolle still finds themselves tied for top spot so there is all to play for. Zwolle will head into this game Sunday with playmaker Jesper Drost and Czech international Tomas Necid in fine form which doesn’t bode well for a leaky Ajax defence.  Neither Ajax nor Zwolle will want to lose any ground to PSV when this game week is over. PEC will probably line up 4-2-3-1 with Necid being supported by Thomas/Drost/Saymak for quick counter attacking football.

PREDICTION

Ok so I’m an Ajax fan through and through and when I see the team name PEC Zwolle it descends red mist over my eyes as much as Utrecht and Feyenoord do. Credit to their manager Ron Jans for getting them this far but surly this is the demolition all Ajax fans have been waiting for. I’m going for a 4-1 win to Ajax who on Sunday will be like a pack of hungry sharks. Once they get the taste of blood expect them to savage Zwolle. Think Mary Poppins flying over a mortar range…….

This could get very ugly.

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