Make AFC AJAX Great Again

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KICK OFF LEAGUE SEASON 2027-2028: BATTLE FOR LEFT WING

• Ajax started the Dutch Eredivisie where it left: with a dominant 3:0 win at NAC Breda
• Head coach Daniel Marzec surprised with opting Marco Bizot over Predrag Rajković on goal and young Aaron Bouwman instead of the experienced Takehiro Tomiyasu
• Despite a dodgy pre-season, both candidates to succeed Mika Godts on the left wing made a fine impression: both Prince Junior as well as his substitute Pharrell Nash noted a goal in their official Ajax debut.

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[Danimal5981]

COMFORTABLE WIN IN FIRST HOME GAME

• Six goals, six goal scorers; Ajax get a comfortable outing in the second of 34 league rounds and take the lead in the standings on goal difference.
• PSV, on paper the main competitor for the title, are prioritizing UEFA Champions League qualifying and play-offs and have already dropped points in their first away game.
• Sparta have a surprisingly strong opening of the season, winning 4:0 at Groningen. The well-mannered and traditional gentlemen's club find themselves in second place after two rounds, with striker Lauritsen having scored four times in two games.

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[Danimal5981]

KASPER COMES, KASPER GOES

Ajax has agreed to the departure of Kasper Dolberg to Real Oviedo. Out of three interested clubs, Oviedo was willing to go furthest beyond the minimal desired price tag of € 20,000,000,-. The stance of the Amsterdam side became a bit more relaxed towards the end of the negotiations, when it became clear another Dane called Kasper would actually take over from the Danish Kasper that was about to depart.

The replacement of Kasper Dolberg, is Kasper Høgh. Until his transfer, he was striker of Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt. In the 2025-2026 season, he was also top scorer of UEFA Europa League. Like Ajax, Bodø/Glimt qualified directly for the group stage of UEFA Champions League, but the Danish striker wanted to play in a league of a higher level than the Norwegian Elitserien.

Høgh (27) signed a deal for 5 years, keeping him in the Dutch capital until 2032. During the first season, he will have to compete with homegrown striker Don-Angelo Konadu for the spot of central attacker.

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MARZEC GIVES DEBUT TO FABERSKI AND NEW SIGNING HØGH

• Visiting the smallest stadium in the Dutch Eredivisie, Ajax travelled back to Amsterdam with a 2:0 win and three points in the bag
• In the second half, Ajax-head coach Daniel Marzec gave winger Jan Faberski and new striker Kasper Høgh their debut for Ajax; they were not involved with any of the goals scored
• Meanwhile elsewhere, PSV lost 0:3 at home to Heerenveen. With only one win, one draw and one defeat for PSV, there's already five points between them and Ajax who're in the lead

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PSV AND SPORTING MISS OUT ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

• PSV continue their dreadful start of the season. Sacrificing points in the domestic Eredivisie, the Eindhoven team lost twice to Greek side Olympiacos (2:3, 0:3) and are now destined to play Europa League this season.
• The same applies to Sporting Clube Portugal who were beaten twice by Galatasaray (1:2, 1:2). The defeats of PSV and Sporting are extra painful as Netherlands, Portugal, Türkiye and Greece are locked in battle for 6th place on the UEFA Coefficient Ranking - Sixth place is seen as the holy grail for smaller football countries, as it is the last place that still grants two automatic spots in UEFA Champions League. England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France traditionally occupy the Top 5.
• However, there's good news for Ajax. The participation share for The Netherlands now does not need to be split in two. Instead the full share will go to Amsterdam, providing an even slightly more comfortable budget for Ajax than before.

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NEW AJAX ACADEMY ACOLYTE: PHARELL NASH!

• Having spent time at Danish side Midtjylland last season and being slightly underwhelming during pre-season, Pharell Nash (19, OVR 73) is now growing into the next sensation from the infamous Ajax Academy.
• Second pick to Prince Amoako Junior until now, the rival suffered an injury during the game at PEC Zwolle. Nash seized his chance in a bit over half an hour of playing time.
• The young and talented left winger first scored himself (within three minutes of entering the pitch!) before assisting the 3:1 scored by Don-Angelo Konadu, also an acolyte from Ajax Academy.

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[Danimal5981]

AJAX FACE UPHILL CHALLENGE IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

AFC Ajax are in for a tough campaign in the 2027/2028 UEFA Champions League. The Dutch Eredivisie champions start off with three away games, at Spurs, Barcelona and Frankfurt no less. Points appear to be crucial in the next three games against Ferencváros, AEK and Marseille, because (though at home) Ajax finishes with a double against first Bayern and then Arsenal.

Ajax-head coach Daniel Marzec sees parallels with last season: "We had two must wins during our games against Salzburg and Slavia Prague. Our job was to secure four points from the other six games. We surprised everybody by holding Arsenal to a draw, then we benefitted from the poor form Napoli and Liverpool were in."

Marzec forsees something similar this season: "We start with three away games against three big teams, but there are options in the three games after that. The goal is to secure double digits by the end of 2027: at least 10 points from the first six games. We usually can come along with English sides. Barcelona is our sister club, but from another level. I think the main challenge lies there. Also, the way German and French teams approach the game is something that is challenging to us, so we need to be careful there. All in all, it is going to be very difficult, but that is what we want: perform at the absolute highest level possible. I think we can pull another stunt and secure advance to the preliminary round of 16."