Ajax host PSV on Saturday in the first big clash of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie. Coach Míchel looks set to spring few surprises, Voetbalzone predicts. Ajax v PSV kicks off at 20:00 and will be shown live on ESPN 1.
Marc-André ter Stegen will start in goal at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Lucas Rosa gets the nod at right-back, with Caio Henrique on the left. Aaron Bouwman and Youri Baas once again make up the heart of the Amsterdam defence. Thilo Kehrer, signed this week, therefore starts on the bench.
Amrabat starts straight away
Sofyan Amrabat, unveiled last week, is expected to start against PSV. Jorthy Mokio has brought control and balance to the Ajax midfield in recent weeks, but now steps aside. Davy Klaassen adds experience and running power, while Julian Brandt supplies the creativity.
Up front, Míchel sticks with familiar names, with Steven Berghuis on the right. Abdellah Ouazane starts on the left and the 1.97-metre-tall Tolu Arokodare leads the line as the target man against PSV.
Further forward, the Spanish coach also has Oscar Gloukh and Viktor Tsygankov available, with the latter having still been absent against Telstar. Rayane Bounida and Simon Adringa are unavailable due to injury.
Ajax drew confidence from a 0-4 win over Telstar. That result left the Amsterdam side fourth, three points behind second-placed PSV, who thrashed FC Utrecht 1-6.
Probable Ajax line-up (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Rosa, Bouwman, Baas, Caio Henrique; Amrabat, Klaassen, Brandt; Berghuis, Tolu, Ouazane.