Ajax vs AZ prediction, odds & betting tips – 18/10/2025

The standout fixture in round nine of the 2025-26 Eredivisie season sees Ajax entertain the challenge of AZ at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday evening.

With only one point separating the sides in the standings ahead of this weekend's meeting in Amsterdam, a close encounter is on the cards.

Ajax vs AZ prediction: de Godenzonen to continue unbeaten Eredivisie start

Key stats

• Ajax have gone seven matches since their last clean sheet, and it is no surprise that five of their last six games have yielded three goals or more.
• Like Ajax, AZ have also been defensively shoddy of late, with no clean sheets in six outings, five of which have seen both teams score.
• The Alkmaar-based outfit have also opened the scoring in seven of their last nine matches across all competitions.

Correct score prediction: Ajax 2-1 AZ

With 17 goals scored apiece, the teams have the same attacking output so far, but Ajax just about have the upper hand on the defensive front.

As a result, we are leaning towards a win for the hosts at the end of the 90 minutes.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Hosts fancied to make home advantage count

• HOME: 1/1 (2.00) – 50%
• DRAW: 11/4 (3.75) – 26.7%
• AWAY: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%

*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

Alongside current leaders Feyenoord, Ajax are one of two Eredivisie teams still undefeated in league action this term, and a 50% chance of winning suggests things are unlikely to change this weekend.

Johnny Heitinga's men will, however, set out to return to winning ways after a 3-3 stalemate against Sparta Rotterdam last time out, during which they inexplicably threw away a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes.

AZ, meanwhile, managed to end a four-game winless run just before the international break by narrowly beating newly-promoted Telstar 2-1 at the AFAS Stadion.

First-half goals from Mexx Meerdink and Matej Sin put Maarten Martens's men in the driving seat before Tyrese Noslin pulled one back just past the hour mark.

For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.

Most recent H2Hs: AZ unbeaten in eight

After winning the first two of three meetings between the sides last season, AZ were on course to make it a hat-trick of victories as they led 2-1 in March's most recent meeting before Oliver Edvardsen restored parity with five minutes left on the clock.

While that was enough to stop Saturday's visitors from recording a fifth straight win in this fixture, it extended their run of matches without defeat to eight across all competitions dating back to May 2022.

Netherlands Eredivisie 16/03/25

Ajax

2

AZ

2

Netherlands Cup 14/01/25

AZ

2

Ajax

0

Netherlands Eredivisie 08/12/24

AZ

2

Ajax

1

Netherlands Eredivisie 25/02/24

AZ

2

Ajax

0

Netherlands Eredivisie 08/10/23

Ajax

1

AZ

2

Ajax preview: Owen Wijndal unavailable to face off against former employers

Wijndal picked up a muscle problem in Ajax's Champions League defeat against Marseille and is set for a spell on the sidelines, ruling him out of Saturday's clash.

Fellow Dutchmen Branco van den Boomen and Youri Regeer are also out of contention for the home side, while Kasper Dolberg is also expected to miss out with an abdominal strain.

Predicted lineup: Jaros(GK), Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Mokio, Gloukh, Klaassen, Taylor, Edvardsen, Weghorst & Godts

Ajax's last five matches:

• Sparta Rotterdam 3-3 Ajax (Eredivisie)
• Marseille 4-0 Ajax (Champions League)
• Ajax 2-1 NAC (Eredivisie)
• PSV 2-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)
• Ajax 0-2 Inter (Champions League)

AZ preview: Troy Parrott makes timely return to action with Mexx Meerdink now sidelined

After missing six straight matches between August 28 and October 2, Parrott made a much-awaited comeback in AZ's victory over Telstar and featured for Ireland in both of their World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia.

However, AZ will now have to make do with the absence of Meerdink, who had shouldered most of the attacking burden in Parrott's absence.

Seiya Maikuma and Isak Jensen are also sidelined for the away side.

Predicted lineup: Owuso-Oduro(GK), De Wit, Penetra, Goes, Kasius, Smit, Mijnans, Clasie, Daal, Parrott & Patati

AZ's last five matches:

• AZ 2-1 Telstar (Eredivisie)
• AEK 4-0 AZ (Europa League)
• NEC 2-1 AZ (Eredivisie)
• AZ 2-2 Zwolle (Eredivisie)
• AZ 3-3 Feyenoord (Eredivisie)

Player to watch – Wout Weghorst

Weghorst netted 10 goals in 24 matches on his return to Dutch football last season as Ajax narrowly missed out on the title.

The 33-year-old has already halved that tally in seven matches this term after his double against Sparta on returning to action.

Consequently, only Feyenoord's Ayase Ueda has scored more Eredivisie goals than Weghorst so far, and the towering striker will be aiming to deliver the goods against one of his former sides.