**Fortuna's hot streak meets Ajax's continental hangover** — the hosts have rattled off three wins in their last five, but they're facing a side that just put five past FC Sion. 🔥

Both teams sit 3W-1D-1L in recent form, so this is genuinely competitive on paper. That said, Ajax's H2H dominance (28 wins in 39 meetings) tells you everything about the pecking order here.

Key storylines:

- **Fortuna's attacking spark** — **M. Ihattaren** and **É. Michut** are running hot in midfield, and the hosts aren't shy about opening up
- **Ajax's transition game** — **S. Berghuis** and **T. Arokodare** have the pace to punish any Fortuna sloppiness on the counter
- **Defensive X-factor** — Fortuna's 5-3-2 shape is compact; Ajax's **D. Klaassen** will be key to breaking it down centrally

Expected lineups:

- **Fortuna Sittard**: M. Branderhorst, J. Hubner, I. Pinto, J. Dahlhaus, S. Van Ottele, S. Wylin, P. Brittijn, M. Ihattaren
- **AFC Ajax**: M. ter Stegen, C. Henrique, Y. Baas, D. Blind, A. Gaaei, O. Gloukh, J. Mokio, D. Klaassen

Prediction:

**Ajax 2–1 Fortuna** — Fortuna will get a goal, but Ajax's quality edges it out despite the hosts' confidence.

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