Match Preview: Ajax vs Olympiakos Piraeus – Friendlies Clubs

Ajax Seeks Cohesion Against Familiar Olympiakos Foe

Pre-season friendlies rarely carry the weight of a Champions League knockout tie, but for Ajax, Saturday's encounter with Olympiakos Piraeus offers a chance to arrest a worrying trend. Their recent form of two losses, two draws, and a solitary win paints a concerning picture for a side expected to dominate, even in preparation. Compounding this, their last meeting with Olympiakos in January saw the Greek side snatch a 2-1 victory, suggesting a rivalry that transcends the 'friendly' tag. While the result itself might seem minor, the underlying performance against a familiar opponent will reveal much about Ajax's tactical direction and player integration.

Match Details

• Competition: Friendlies Clubs
• Venue: Sportcomplex De Toekomst, Ouder-Amstel
• Kick-off: Saturday, 18 July 2026 • 14:30 UK Time
• Referee: None

Current Form

Ajax’s pre-season has been a struggle for rhythm and consistency, as evidenced by their recent run of two losses, two draws, and just one win. This scattered run indicates a side still searching for its identity and tactical understanding, with defensive organisation and attacking fluidity likely areas of concern. Finding a consistent build-up shape and converting chances has seemingly proven difficult, leaving them with an urgent need to build momentum.

Olympiakos Piraeus, in contrast, arrives with a shorter but more positive recent ledger of one win and one draw. While a smaller sample size, it suggests a team that has found a degree of early-season stability. Their ability to secure results, even in friendly fixtures, hints at a more settled tactical approach and potentially better defensive compactness.

Team News

With no major injuries reported for either side, both Ajax and Olympiakos Piraeus are expected to have full squads at their disposal. This absence of enforced changes means coaches can freely experiment with personnel and tactical setups, using the opportunity to give minutes across the squad. For Ajax, this allows experienced figures like Daley Blind and Davy Klaassen to anchor the spine, potentially integrating younger talents such as Jorrel Hato or Rayane Bounida into various phases of play. The competition for spots in attacking areas, featuring the likes of Kasper Dolberg, Mohamed Godts, and Owen Edvardsen, will likely see significant rotation.

Olympiakos will also benefit from a deep roster. Defenders like David Carmo and Rodinei can solidify a backline, while the creativity of Kostas Fortounis and the goalscoring prowess of Ayoub El Kaabi offer significant threats in the final third. Midfielders such as Santiago Hezze and Dani García will aim to control the tempo, ensuring a blend of experience and fresh faces on the pitch to manage minutes load effectively.

Head to Head

Recent history between these two sides, despite the friendly nature of their encounters, tells a story of tight contests. The last meeting in January 2026 saw Olympiakos snatch a narrow 2-1 victory over Ajax. This reversed the outcome of their July 2024 clash, where Ajax emerged with a slender 1-0 win. The alternating results and single-goal margins underline a balanced rivalry, suggesting neither side can claim clear dominance over the other. Expect another finely poised affair, where tactical adjustments and individual moments could prove decisive, just as they have in the past.

Tactical Breakdown

Ajax’s recent inconsistency suggests they are still refining their tactical approach, likely balancing high pressing intensity with positional play in build-up. Their defensive unit, featuring the likes of Jurriën Timber and Daley Blind, will be tasked with establishing a high line to compress the pitch. However, the recent losses hint at potential vulnerabilities in transitions or against direct play, especially if their counter-press isn't sharp enough. The midfield, with Kenneth Taylor and Davy Klaassen, will need to maintain compactness to avoid being exploited in the half-spaces, while wingbacks like Owen Wijndal could be crucial in providing width and creating overloads in the wide channels.

Olympiakos, having found more recent stability, might look to capitalise on any lingering disorganisation in Ajax’s structure. Their attacking options, notably Ayoub El Kaabi and Gelson Martins, possess the pace and guile to exploit space in behind a high defensive line. We could see Olympiakos employing a mid-block, absorbing pressure and then launching rapid transitions, utilising the ball-carrying ability of Gabriel Strefezza or the vision of Kostas Fortounis. Their defensive solidity, anchored by David Carmo and Francisco Ortega, indicates they can hold a deep block if needed, frustrating Ajax’s attempts to break them down through intricate positional play and potentially forcing them into less effective direct play.

Prediction

Given Ajax's somewhat shaky pre-season form and Olympiakos's recent positive results against them, this friendly could be a tough test for the Dutch giants. While Ajax has the quality to dominate possession, Olympiakos has proven they can frustrate and punish. A tightly contested match is on the cards, with both teams likely to rotate heavily. I'm predicting a 1-1 draw, as Ajax struggles to convert their chances while Olympiakos finds a way to nick a goal on the break.