- Team form: AFC Ajax are on a 5-game winning streak, their most recent wins coming 4-1 against FK Vojvodina Novi Sad and 3-1 against FC Volendam.
- Opposition form: Zwolle have lost their last 2 games in succession, 2-3 at home to AEK Athens and 3-0 away to Hannover 96.
- Away record: Ajax are unbeaten away from home in 3 games across all competitions (W2, D1) and have only conceded 2 goals in total on their travels during that period.
A proper chess match is expected at MAC3PARK Stadion
AFC Ajax come into this Eredivisie 2026-2027 clash with FC Zwolle on the back of 5 consecutive wins and they are the only team in this weekend's round to be listed at odds-on with the bookmakers, 1.51, against their hosts who are 5.5 and the draw 4.5.
It seems clear that the market is heavily weighted in favour of an away win on Sunday and it is hard to disagree with that assessment, but we will try to squeeze some value from the game by supporting Zwolle to keep things tighter than the odds suggest.
Ajax have had Zwolle's measure in recent years, winning 3 of the last 5 Eredivisie meetings between the clubs, with 1 win for Zwolle and one 0-0 draw. The reverse fixture from Eredivisie 2025/2026 finished 0-0 at this ground and can serve as a reminder that this is a fixture which can get a bit cagey.
Zwolle will try to make it messy, Ajax will look to smother
Tactical blueprint
Henry van der Vegt has been in charge of Zwolle since 1st July 2025 and his pragmatic blueprint has been designed to frustrate the bigger clubs, which this AFC Ajax side certainly are.
On-field contrast
The home side will set up with a compact shape, select their moments to press, and attempt to get men behind the ball quickly to spring traps in transition. Ajax, in contrast, are possession-first, counter-press immediately when they lose the ball and push the ball forward quickly to pin the opponents back.
The contrast in tactics should make for a proper chess match on Sunday, with the visitors looking to smother Zwolle and the hosts trying to make it as messy as possible.
The visitors will win, but Zwolle should keep it respectable
Míchel has only been in the Ajax hot seat since 30th June 2026, but his high-tempo game already seems to have set the tone for this Ajax squad and they should come out on top here.
However, Zwolle will not make things easy for the Amsterdam giants and could keep this one a little closer than the short odds on an away victory suggest. In addition, Zwolle have failed to win any of their last 2 home games against Ajax, so the odds-on visitors have had their number on recent trips to this ground.
- Ajax's form across all competitions is much the superior of the two clubs, 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last 10 matches, while Zwolle have 2 wins, 1 draw and 7 defeats in the same period.
- The over 2.5 goals market at 1.45 looks about right for a game that Ajax should control in terms of possession and chances created, but both teams to score at 1.53 also appeals for a live and open affair at MAC3PARK Stadion.
