• Competition: Dutch - Eredivisie
• Date: Sunday, 11th, August 2024
• Kickoff: 15:45 UK / 16.45 CEST
• Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam)

Ajax will aim to leverage their European form into a successful start to the Eredivisie season when they host Heerenveen at Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday.

Last season, Ajax endured one of the worst league campaigns in their history, but they ultimately managed to placate their passionate supporters by securing a European spot with a fifth-place finish. If you take into account the fact that at one time in the early stages of the season they were cemented for the relegation places, booking a ticket to European football is a mild success for the Amsterdam club who will do their best to correct last season's mistakes and deliver a strong performance.

Their first test of the new Eredivisie season comes against a Heerenveen side who will be determined to make a push for a top eight after missing out on European spots through the playoffs due to a dismal 11th-place finish last term. With Kees van Wonderen failing to achieve the expected results in his two-year stint, De Superfriezen opted for a managerial change, bringing in Oranje icon Robin van Persie, who is stepping into a senior club role for the first time following his tenure coaching Feyenoord Under-18.

Ajax vs Heerenveen Betting Tips: AJAX TO WIN

At first glance, the managerial switch appears to have benefited Ajax, as they have made a remarkable start to the season under Italian coach Francesco Farioli, achieving three wins out of three games to date. After seeing off Vojvodina with a dominant 4-1 aggregate win in the previous round, the Amsterdam club put in a great performance in Greece during the Europa League third-round qualifiers by taking a slim but valuable 1-0 lead in the first leg, so they will be looking to translate their European form into domestic affairs to start the Eredivisie season in style.

Furthermore, supporters at Johan Cruyff Arena will eagerly anticipate the visit of Heerenveen to kick off the season, a side they have previously dispatched with ease, and the Amsterdamers can proudly flaunt a six-game winning run with a perfect goal difference of 26 goals scored and only four allowed. Withe De Superfriezen have shown inconsistency results on the road lately—winning only one of their last six away matches in any format—we expect Ajax to maintain their unblemished record in the new campaign by bagging three points on Eredivisie's opening day.