Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5
Best odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: 888sport
Telstar’s return to the Eredivisie after 47 years begins with a week-one visit to last season’s runners-up Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday.
De Godenzonen endured final-day disappointment in 2024/25, ending just one point behind champions PSV, and now open the new campaign against last year’s second-tier playoff winners, with a new manager at the helm.
Ajax
While Ajax squandered a commanding lead in the closing weeks of last season under Francesco Farioli, Johnny Heitinga was serving as assistant manager at Liverpool, who went on to win the Premier League under Arne Slot.
After playing a supporting role in the Reds’ title success, Heitinga has returned to Ajax for a second spell, having previously taken charge for the latter half of the 2022/23 season, winning 14 of 22 matches. Now aiming to better that 63.4% win rate, the former Dutch centre-back is tasked with reviving the club following last season’s collapse, when they finished second despite holding a nine-point lead with five matches to go.
Pre-season started positively with four wins and a draw from their first five games, but defensive concerns persisted as Ajax failed to keep a clean sheet. They conceded three in a 6-3 victory over Hibernian and two in a 3-2 win against Mechelen, before those issues caught up with them in a 3-0 defeat to Como and a 2-2 draw with Monaco.
The opener against Telstar will test whether the promoted side can contain Ajax’s attacking threat while posing a danger themselves.
Team News
Josip Sutalo and Brian Brobbey are likely to miss out with ankle injuries, while Branco van den Boomen is sidelined with a back problem.
The summer saw several departures, including Jorrel Hato to Chelsea, as well as Carlos Forbs, Borna Sosa, Jakov Medic, Kristian Hlynsson, Christian Rasmussen, Jordan Henderson, and Jay Gorter. However, last season’s top scorers Oliver Valaker Edvardsen (12 goals) and Wout Weghorst (10) remain, both eager to start strongly.
Telstar
Telstar’s return to the top flight after 47 years was far from expected for much of last season, as they were never serious contenders for a top-two finish, which went to Volendam and Excelsior.
Their 61 points from 38 games left them 13 points adrift of second place, underlining the gap to the division’s best, but they took advantage of the playoffs for the league’s third promotion spot. Anthony Correia’s side beat ADO Den Haag 3-0 on aggregate in the first round, edged Den Bosch 2-1 in the semi-finals, and overcame Willem II 5-3 over two legs in the final, sealing the deal with a 3-1 away win in Tilburg after a home draw.
Preparations for Eredivisie football have seen seven new arrivals, and pre-season results have been promising. The White Lions recorded six wins, two draws, and just one defeat, scoring in every match except for a 5-0 loss to Jong Sparta Rotterdam on July 29. They quickly responded with a 2-1 victory over Qatari side Shamal, and now face a daunting opener at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday.
Team News
For Telstar, replacing the firepower of Zakaria Eddahchouri and Youssef El Kachati—who scored 19 and 17 goals respectively last season—will be essential as they search for new attacking solutions.
Several newcomers, including Daan Reiziger, Nigel Ogidi Nwankwo, and Patrick Brouwer, are set to feature, and despite losing key attackers, Correia heads into Telstar’s long-awaited Eredivisie return with a strong and well-prepared squad.
Conclusion
While the visitors will look to keep Sunday’s clash competitive, likely relying on a defensive approach, the hosts’ proven attacking strength in pre-season suggests they should claim a comfortable opening-week win.
Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5
Best odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: 888sport
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