Kjell Scherpen is just under the bar at Ajax in the away game against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday afternoon, despite his big blunder in the Europa League duel with AS Roma (1-2 defeat) last Thursday. Maarten Stekelenburg is not yet fit enough and is therefore missing from Ajax’s match selection. In the vanguard, Antony is preferred by trainer Erik ten Hag to David Neres. Vurnon Anita is missing from RCK because he has become a father. The meeting in Waalwijk starts at 4.45 pm.
Stekelenburg was injured last week in Ajax’s away match against sc Heerenveen (1-2) and the 38-year-old goalkeeper has still not recovered. Scherpen therefore once again gained the confidence of Ten Hag, despite his much-discussed mistake in the equalizer of Roma on Thursday. In the defense, the Ajax coach opts for familiar names: Jurriën Timber and Lisandro Martínez form the heart of the defense, with Devyne Rensch and Nicolás Tagliafico taking the back positions. In midfield, Davy Klaassen is once again flanked by Edson Álvarez and Ryan Gravenberch.
Sébastien Haller, not registered for the Europa League matches of Ajax, is the leader of the leader in the Eredivisie in Waalwijk. Dusan Tadic will return to the position of left winger. Antony is allowed to show his skills on the right side of the Ajax vanguard. Neres has to settle for a place on the bench, as well as Sean Klaiber, Oussama Idrissi, Mohammed Kudus and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. Ajax managed to beat RKC 3-0 earlier this season. The goals were scored last September by Martínez, Tadic and Zakaria Labyad.
Setup RKC Waalwijk: Lamprou; Bakari, Meulensteen, Touba, Quasten; Azhil, Tahiri, Van der Venne; Daneels, Oosting, John
Ajax setup: Sharpening; Rensch Timber, Martínez, Tagliafico; Álvarez, Klaassen, Gravenberch; Antony, Haller and Tadic.