Ajax vs Heracles Predictions

• Ajax have conceded twice in five of their six preseason friendlies
• That came after major defensive departures and the side conceding nine goals in their last five Eredivisie games last season
• Heracles scored 103 times on their way to winning the second division title

More problems for Ajax?

Last season was far from ideal for Ajax, who finished third overall and some way off the pace of champions Feyenoord. Not only do they head into 2022/23 with no Champions League football, their domestic hopes aren’t looking great either.

They’ve had to make sales to offset that lack of revenue, with Jurrien Timber, Edson Alvarez and Calvin Bassey all departing. In return, Ajax have signed a 19, 20 and 21-year-old and none of them are defenders. That leaves them looking exposed going into this clash with Heracles.

Visitors to cause problems

Heracles are newly promoted to the top flight but they can trouble an Ajax side who have looked defensively shaky for a while. They conceded nine goals across their final five league games of last season, before selling off important figures in defence.

While preseason form isn’t usually something to go off, it is alarming that the expected back four for Saturday all started in a 3-0 loss to Anderlecht last month. Over preseason, Ajax conceded twice to Den Bosch before conceding three goals to Anderlecht, Unterhaching, Augsburg and Dortmund.

The Dutch side shipped over a goal per game on average last term and their summer results suggest that their defensive sales have weakened them. Given that Heracles topped the table with 103 goals in the second tier last term, back them to get a least one.