Fortuna Sittard welcome Ajax to Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Saturday evening in Eredivisie Matchweek 6. Danny Buijs’ side have made an excellent start, taking 10 points from five matches and scoring 11 times along the way.
Fortuna arrive after back-to-back 3-2 away wins over Groningen and ADO Den Haag. They are playing with real confidence going forward, led by Mohamed Ihattaren and Lequincio Zeefuik, although they have also conceded in every league game so far.
Ajax travel south after a 3-1 defeat to PSV, but that result followed a long unbeaten run and should not hide their attacking strength. Míchel Sánchez’s team have scored 31 goals in their last 10 competitive matches, including four in each of their last two away games.
This looks like a game in which Ajax should create plenty, while Fortuna have enough pace, creativity and current form to make their own mark. Our prediction is 2-3, with Over 3.5 Goals at odds of 2.10 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Over 3.5 Goals
Market: Total Goals
Correct Score Prediction: 2-3
Odds: 2.10
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Expected Goals: Over 3.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: Yes
📅 Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
🏟️ Venue: Fortuna Sittard Stadion
🏆 Competition: Eredivisie
Match Preview
Fortuna have been one of the early surprises in the Eredivisie. Their 3-1-1 record leaves them sixth after five games, and Buijs has found a setup that is bringing the best from a reshaped squad. The recent 5-3-2 has given them wing-back width through captain Ivo Pinto and Jasper Dahlhaus, while keeping two forwards high enough to attack quickly.
The latest win at ADO was a good example. Fortuna had only 42% possession, but were sharp when space opened up and won 3-2 through two Ihattaren goals and a Zeefuik header. Shiloh ‘t Zand played an important part in the first-half attacking moves, while Édouard Michut again linked midfield to attack well. This is not a side waiting passively for chances; they are finding ways to hurt teams on the break.
Ihattaren has started the season superbly, with three league goals and two assists in five appearances. Zeefuik has matched him for league goals, scoring three times, and Anthony Descotte offers mobility alongside him. Ole Romeny’s return from suspension gives Buijs another forward option from the start or the bench.
The issue for Fortuna is at the other end. They have no clean sheet in five league games and have conceded twice in each of their last two wins. The back five has been competitive, with Rodrigo Guth back in the side alongside Justin Hubner, but Ajax bring far more attacking depth than Groningen or ADO.
Ajax were beaten 3-1 by PSV last weekend, yet there were still spells when they controlled the ball and created openings through Julian Brandt, Steven Berghuis and Davy Klaassen. Tolu Arokodare scored Ajax’s equaliser and has five competitive goals in the early part of the campaign. He is the focal point, but he is far from their only threat.
Berghuis supplied two assists in the 4-0 win at Telstar, while Klaassen, Arokodare and Marcos Leonardo were also on the scoresheet that day. Oscar Gloukh offers a direct goal threat from the left or central areas, and Brandt adds another creative player between the lines. Ajax have scored six goals in two Eredivisie away matches, without conceding, although their last four competitive fixtures have all seen them concede.
Míchel wants Ajax to dominate territory and push opponents back. That approach should give Fortuna transition opportunities, especially if Pinto and Dahlhaus can release Ihattaren, Descotte or Zeefuik early. It also points towards an open contest rather than a cautious away performance from Ajax.
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Why Over 3.5 Goals Makes Sense
Over 3.5 Goals at 2.10 needs four goals, so it is not a bet for anyone expecting Ajax to manage the game through possession alone. But the price makes sense when the recent numbers and likely match pattern are put together.
Fortuna’s last 10 league matches have produced 17 goals scored and 18 conceded. Seven of those 10 games finished above 2.5 goals and eight saw both teams score. Their opening five league matches this season have already contained 20 goals, at an average of four per game.
Ajax have been even more prolific across all competitions. Their last 10 games have produced 31 Ajax goals, while eight have gone over 2.5 goals. The Conference League qualifiers contributed to that total, but the domestic away evidence is also strong: Ajax won 2-0 at PEC Zwolle and 4-0 at Telstar.
The tactical fit is encouraging. Ajax should have the majority of the ball, with Brandt, Klaassen, Berghuis and Gloukh supplying runners around Arokodare. Fortuna do not need long spells of possession to score; their recent wins at Groningen and ADO showed how quickly Ihattaren and Zeefuik can punish loose defensive moments.
The main risk is Ajax controlling the game after taking an early lead, or Marc-André ter Stegen producing an outstanding away performance. However, Ajax are likely to field a changed central-defensive partnership after Aaron Bouwman’s injury, while Fortuna have scored in four of five league matches. At 2.10, four goals looks a fair target rather than an overambitious one.
- ✓Fortuna Sittard have scored 11 and conceded nine goals in five Eredivisie matches.
- ✓Fortuna have kept no clean sheets in their first five league games.
- ✓Fortuna's last 10 league matches have seen Over 2.5 Goals land in 7/10 games.
- ✓Ajax have scored 31 goals in their last 10 competitive matches.
- ✓Ajax have scored 16 goals across their last five competitive away matches.
- ✓Ajax have conceded in each of their last four competitive fixtures.
- ✓The last four meetings were won by Ajax by an aggregate score of 14-2.
Team News
Fortuna have Ole Romeny available again after he completed his two-match suspension following his red card against AZ. He missed the wins at Groningen and ADO, so Buijs must decide whether to restore him immediately or retain Descotte beside Zeefuik. Michut played through a minor fitness concern at ADO and remains an important player to monitor, but he finished that match.
Kristoffer Peterson, Iván Márquez, Sven Simons and Siebe Wylin are unavailable for Fortuna. The recent back five of Pinto, Philip Brittijn, Guth, Hubner and Dahlhaus has otherwise given Buijs a settled defensive group.
Ajax must cope without centre-back Aaron Bouwman, who is ruled out for the September fixtures after suffering a sternum injury and bruised lung against PSV. Thilo Kehrer replaced him late in that match and is the obvious candidate to partner Youri Baas. Daley Blind, Rayane Bounida and Simon Adingra are also unavailable.
Sofyan Amrabat, Viktor Tsygankov and Kehrer all made their Ajax debuts against PSV, giving Míchel extra senior options. Marcos Leonardo, Kasper Dolberg and Tsygankov offer serious attacking alternatives if Ajax want fresh legs in the second half.
Possible Starting Lineups
Fortuna Sittard Possible XI
Branderhorst; Pinto, Brittijn, Guth, Hubner, Dahlhaus; Ihattaren, Michut, ‘t Zand; Descotte, Zeefuik
Ajax Possible XI
ter Stegen; Gaaei, Kehrer, Baas, Caio Henrique; Klaassen, Mokio, Brandt; Berghuis, Arokodare, Gloukh
Players to Watch
Mohamed Ihattaren — Fortuna Sittard
Ihattaren is in excellent form after scoring twice and assisting once at ADO. His movement into right-sided attacking spaces could be particularly useful against an Ajax defence adjusting to Bouwman’s absence.
Lequincio Zeefuik — Fortuna Sittard
Zeefuik has scored in Fortuna’s last two wins and has shown he can finish different types of chances. Ajax may dominate the ball, but Fortuna only need a few clean transition moments for their striker to matter.
Toluwalase Arokodare — Ajax
Arokodare has five competitive goals and scored against PSV despite Ajax losing. Fortuna have conceded in every league game, so the in-form centre-forward should get opportunities in and around the penalty area.
Steven Berghuis — Ajax
Berghuis was outstanding in the win at Telstar, scoring once and setting up two more. His delivery and ability to move inside can test Fortuna’s left side and help create the overloads Ajax need.
Head-to-Head
Ajax have had the better of this fixture in recent seasons. They won 4-1 when the teams last met in Amsterdam in February 2026, having also won 3-1 in Sittard during the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign.
Fortuna have lost the last four meetings by an aggregate score of 14-2. Ajax also won 2-0 on their previous trip to Fortuna Sittard Stadion in February 2025, so the recent meetings have regularly delivered Ajax goals.
Final Verdict
Ajax are still favourites because of the depth in their forward areas and their impressive away record, but Fortuna’s start means this should not be a one-sided trip. Buijs has a side that can absorb pressure and strike quickly, with Ihattaren and Zeefuik in the form to punish any uncertainty in Ajax’s new-look central defence.
The strongest case for the goals is that neither team arrives with a reliable defensive record across recent matches, while both have several players contributing in the final third. The risk is Ajax turning it into a controlled away win, but at 2.10, I am happy to back the game opening up. My correct-score prediction is Fortuna Sittard 2-3 Ajax.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Ajax should create enough to win, but Fortuna’s attacking output makes them capable of contributing to a high-scoring game. With both defences carrying questions and both attacks in form, Over 3.5 Goals remains the best bet.
Best Bet: Over 3.5 Goals
Odds: 2.10
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Correct Score: Fortuna Sittard 2-3 Ajax
