The pressure on Maurice Steijn is building as Ajax lost again on Sunday. The Amsterdammers lost 1-2 to AZ in the Johan Cruijff arena to make it seven games without a win. They go into the international break 16th in the Eredivisie. Maurice Steijn did not have Steven Berghuis and Josip Sutalo at his disposal. Both players are not fit and were replaced in the starting lineup by Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Jakov Medic. Ex-Ajax player Riechedly Bazoer returned for the Alkmaarders and started at Centre-Back.
AZ Alkmaar was knocked out of the UEFA Conference League at the semi-finals stage on Thursday by West Ham United. The Alkmaar side lost the match 1-0, losing 3-1 on aggregate. AZ was boosted by Jesper Karlsson returning from injury. The Swedish winger returned last Sunday against FC Emmen in AZ's 5-1 victory. It was his first game for a month, with this match being his first start. Jens Odgaard was still missing through injury, with Myron van Brederode going to the right wing.
Town pair Andre Dozzell and Ben Morris helped the England U17s to a 3-1 victory over Denmark in their final group game at the European Championships in Azerbaijan to secure second place and a quarter-final against Spain in Baku on Sunday evening.