ERIK SAYS :

FC Groningen v Ajax Amsterdam
Football: Netherlands, Eredivisie 2009/2010
Sunday, 2nd August 2009 - Kickoff 14:30 CET

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FC Groningen

FC Groningen failed to grab a European ticket last season after finishing on the sixth place in the ranking but losing the final round of the play-offs against NAC Breda.

FC Groningen saw their key player Berg (att) move to Hamburger SV (Ger) over the summer and also Levchenko (mid), Matthijs (mid), Veldmate (def) and Meerdink (att) won't be present in the selection for the new season.

FC Groningen failed to finish their preparation period undefeated after losing their last game 2-0 on the road to Olympiakos Pireaus (Gre) and the team will be looking for their first serious test of the new season playing at home against Ajax in a game that has always guaranteed a spectacle in the previous seasons.

Ajax Amsterdam

Ajax finished third place last season failing to grab a ticket for the Champions League qualifiers being one point away from the second place after a very poor finish of the season leading to the dismissal of Marco Van Basten.

The team welcomed a new team manager in the likes of Martin Jol coming over from Hamburger SV and much is expected from the former Spurs coach.

Ajax saw one of their best defenders leave with Vermaelen (def) moving to Arsenal but Jol took along Atoube (def) from Hamburger SV to strengthen the defense.

Ajax played two friendly games in their England campaign last week booking victories over Southampton (1-4) and Bristol City (0-4) with the team performing above expectations and Suarez (att) being given the role of captain for the new season.

In the Amsterdam Tournament Ajax grabbed a 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid (Spa) and suffered a 2-3 defeat against Benfica (Por) and the main concern remains that the team gave away the goals very childishly and this will have to change in order to grab the title this season.

The Betting Verdict

NO BET

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

NO BET