It’s been a disappointing start to the new Eredivisie season for Ajax. After three matches the Amsterdam club are already four points behind AZ Alkmaar and PSV who sit in first and second place with nine points. Maurice Steijn’s side were poor in front of goal during Sunday’s goalless draw with Fortuna Sittard. This was also reflected in the match statistics.
Ajax were lucky to have come away from the game with one point. In the opening ten minutes, Fortuna were awarded a penalty after Devyne Rensch brought down Tijjani Noslin in the box. Noslin stepped up to take the spot kick and luckily for Ajax, he sent the ball flying into row Z.
With Brian Brobbey, Carlos Borges and Georges Mikautadze all starting for Ajax, there was optimism in the air that Maurice Steijn’s side would go on to knock a few past Fortuna. However, their expected goals (xG) statistic at the end of the game was just 0.37. According to VI, this is Ajax’s lowest xG in a match since January 2015, when they recorded an xG of just 0.25 in a 0-0 draw with Feyenoord. Fortuna, on the other hand, recorded an xG of 1.42.
Chuba Akpom made his debut during the game. The 27-year-old striker joined the club from Middlesbrough two weeks ago for over £12m. Akpom was brought on for the final 25 minutes of the game. Ajax take on FC Twente in their first game back after the international break. Maurice Steijn will hope that Chuba Akpom can open his account during that clash.
