Sunday , 16 August 2026

AFC Ajax vs Heracles Almelo, Eredivisie 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON

Eredivisie · 2023-24
AFC Ajax
4 – 1
Full Time
Heracles Almelo
Sat 12 Aug 2023 · 18:00 UTC Johan Cruijff Arena 54,029 HT 45' · FT 45'
0–1 45+5' Mario Engels
Jakov Medic 45+8' 1–1
Mohammed Kudus 75' 2–1
Steven Bergwijn 85' 3–1
Steven Bergwijn pen 90+6' 4–1
Y 10' Justin Hoogma
Y 56' Anas Ouahim
Y 58' Mario Engels
Benjamin Tahirovic 61' Y
Devyne Rensch 74' Y
Y 74' Thomas Bruns
Y 88' Bryan Limbombe

Overview

Match Preview

AFC Ajax vs Heracles Almelo — Eredivisie at Johan Cruijff Arena.

Match Details

  • Referee Jeroen Manschot
  • Assistant 1 Rens Bluemink
  • Assistant 2 Patrick Inia

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 AZ 2 6
2 FC Groningen 2 6
3 Fortuna Sittard 2 4
4 PSV 2 4
5 SBV Excelsior 2 3
6 Go Ahead Eagles 1 3
7 NEC 2 3
8 AFC Ajax 1 3
9 Sparta Rotterdam 2 3
10 Feyenoord Rotterdam 1 3
11 SC Heerenveen 1 3
12 Telstar 1963 2 3
13 FC Twente '65 1 0
14 PEC Zwolle 1 0
15 FC Utrecht 2 0
16 ADO Den Haag 2 0
17 Willem II Tilburg 2 0
18 SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden 2 0

Head-to-Head

10
2
2
AFC Ajax 14 games · Avg 3.3 goals Heracles Almelo
Last 5 meetings
2023-08-12 AFC Ajax 4–1 Heracles Almelo 2022-02-06 AFC Ajax 3–0 Heracles Almelo 2021-10-30 Heracles Almelo 0–0 AFC Ajax 2021-02-13 Heracles Almelo 0–2 AFC Ajax 2020-11-22 AFC Ajax 5–0 Heracles Almelo

Recent Form

AFC Ajax
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
12 Aug Heracles Almelo H 4–1 W
28 May FC Twente '65 A 1–3 L
21 May FC Utrecht H 3–1 W
16 May FC Groningen A 3–2 W
06 May AZ H 0–0 D
23 Apr PSV A 0–3 L
Heracles Almelo
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
12 Aug AFC Ajax A 1–4 L
15 May Sparta Rotterdam H 1–3 L
11 May RKC Waalwijk A 0–2 L
07 May Willem II Tilburg A 0–2 L
30 Apr FC Twente '65 H 1–1 D
24 Apr FC Groningen A 1–0 W

Key Stats

36% Both Teams to Score
H2H (14 games)
57% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
100% Clean Sheets
AFC Ajax this season

Goal Timing (This Season)

AFC Ajax
0-15
–/–
16-30
–/–
31-45
–/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
–/–
76+
2/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Events

Match Events

  • 0' The ball is rolling at Johan Cruijff Arena. AFC Ajax are looking to make home advantage count against Heracles Almelo.
  • 5' Diego van Oorschot has certainly something to prove this evening. He made 0 appearances with only 0 goals this season.
  • 10' Justin Hoogma catches the referee's attention in entirely the wrong way. Yellow card on 10.
  • 15' Heracles Almelo is defending very well tonight not leaving a chance for their rivals to get through for a goal.
  • 20' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
  • 25' Heracles Almelo fans have not had much to celebrate tonight. Their side is struggling to get forward.
  • 30' Heracles Almelo started playing very sharply right from the kick off. However, it slowed down the tempo rapidly by 30.
  • 32' Geronimo Rulli makes way for Jay Gorter at the 32 minute mark. A tactical switch from AFC Ajax.
  • 37' named a 4-3-3 earlier, and opted for a 4-3-3 in response. A fascinating tactical duel is developing.
  • 42' It looks surprising Heracles Almelo does not make any changes. Navajo Bakboord has some obvious troubles when approaching to the goal.
  • 45' Heracles Almelo ring the changes. Jizz Hornkamp has done his job and it is now time for Thomas Bruns to step up.
  • 50' Goal! Mario Engels scores his 16 goal in 154 matches.
  • 53' Jakov Medic makes no mistake. The score reads 1-1 and AFC Ajax are in front.
  • 56' The referee calls foul for Anas Ouahim. He receives a Yellow card.
  • 58' It’s a booking for Heracles Almelo player. Mario Engels gets a Yellow card.
  • 61' The crowd applauds Kenneth Taylor as he leaves the pitch. Davy Klaassen steps in for AFC Ajax.
  • 61' AFC Ajax player sees a card in front of him.
  • 66' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
  • 68' A tactical swap from Heracles Almelo — Bryan Limbombe on, Abdenego Nankishi off on 68 minutes.
  • 69' Another substitution for Heracles Almelo to replace Jetro Willems by Ruben Roosken on 69 minute.
  • 74' Controversy at the stadium! Devyne Rensch argues furiously but the Yellow card stands.
  • 75' GOAL! Mohammed Kudus scores on 75.
  • 80' AFC Ajax seems to be on a short break. The game is mainly concentrated in the center. It’s high time they got back to action. Otherwise, it looks like a goalless game.
  • 85' The deadlock is broken! Steven Bergwijn gets on the scoresheet on 85 minutes.
  • 88' Controversy at the stadium! Bryan Limbombe argues furiously but the card stands.
  • 89' The whistle greets Anass Salah-Eddine as he departs to be replaced by Owen Wijndal.
  • It finishes all square. AFC Ajax and Heracles Almelo share the spoils 4-1.

Lineups

AFC Ajax Lineups

4-3-3

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Maurice Steijn

Heracles Almelo Lineups

4-3-3

Starting XI

Bench

Coach John Lammers

H2H

H2H Top Scorers

PlayerGoals
Davy Klaassen 4
Zakaria Labyad 3
Mario Engels 3
Steven Berghuis 3
Brian Brobbey 3
Sebastien Haller 2
Wout Weghorst 2
Luka Kulenovic 2

Head to Head

2023-08-12 AFC Ajax 4–1 Heracles Almelo 2022-02-06 AFC Ajax 3–0 Heracles Almelo 2021-10-30 Heracles Almelo 0–0 AFC Ajax 2021-02-13 Heracles Almelo 0–2 AFC Ajax 2020-11-22 AFC Ajax 5–0 Heracles Almelo

AFC Ajax Form

2023-08-12 AFC Ajax 4–1 Heracles Almelo W 2023-05-28 FC Twente '65 3–1 AFC Ajax L 2023-05-21 AFC Ajax 3–1 FC Utrecht W 2023-05-16 FC Groningen 2–3 AFC Ajax W 2023-05-06 AFC Ajax 0–0 AZ D 2023-04-23 PSV 3–0 AFC Ajax L

Heracles Almelo Form

2023-08-12 AFC Ajax 4–1 Heracles Almelo L 2022-05-15 Heracles Almelo 1–3 Sparta Rotterdam L 2022-05-11 RKC Waalwijk 2–0 Heracles Almelo L 2022-05-07 Willem II Tilburg 2–0 Heracles Almelo L 2022-04-30 Heracles Almelo 1–1 FC Twente '65 D 2022-04-24 FC Groningen 0–1 Heracles Almelo W

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
2 / 4
2.02 AFC Ajax xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.77 Heracles Almelo xG
I would bet for: AFC Ajax to win 65%

Match Result

✓ Correct
AFC Ajax65% Draw22% Heracles Almelo13%
Actual: AFC Ajax win

Both Teams to Score

✗ Wrong
Yes47% 0% No53%
Avg goals/match: 2.79
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✓ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 92%
8%
± 1.5 76%
24%
± 2.5 52%
48%
± 3.5 31%
69%
± 4.5 16%
84%

Double Chance

AFC Ajax or Draw
87%
Draw or Heracles Almelo
35%
AFC Ajax or Heracles Almelo
78%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
AFC Ajax46% Draw43% Heracles Almelo11%
Actual: Draw at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12
2 – 0
12.3%
1 – 0
11.8%
1 – 1
10.3%
2 – 1
9.3%
3 – 0
8.1%
0 – 0
7.8%
3 – 1
6.3%
4 – 0
4.1%
0 – 1
3.9%
2 – 2
3.6%
1 – 2
3.5%
4 – 1
Actual

Asian Handicap — AFC Ajax

Handicap AFC Ajax covers Push Heracles Almelo covers
-2.5 21% — 79%
-2 21% 20% 59%
-1.5 41% — 59%
-1 41% 24% 35%
-0.5 65% — 35%
+0.5 88% — 12%
+1 88% 9% 4%
+1.5 96% — 4%
+2 96% 3% 1%
+2.5 99% — 1%

Clean Sheet

AFC Ajax keeps clean sheet
47% ✓
Heracles Almelo keeps clean sheet
14% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.