If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a footballing giant like Ajax faces off against a team like Heracles Almelo, the answer is simple: it’s like watching a hungry lion chase a confused house cat that just accidentally wandered into the savannah. On August 24, 2025, the Johan Cruijff ArenA is once again hosting this royal comedy, also known as the Eredivisie showdown: Ajax vs. Heracles.
Now, before we dive into predictions, team news, and why Wout Weghorst has the aura of a man who would fight a vending machine if it ate his coins, let’s set the scene.
Ajax: Still the King of Drama
Ajax is currently sitting 6th in the Eredivisie, which for them is the footballing equivalent of a royal family member working at McDonald’s. “We are Ajax, we don’t do sixth place,” you can almost hear the fans mutter, polishing their old trophies from the 1970s.
Recent matches have been a mixed bag:
- Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 2 Ajax (August 17, 2025): Ajax’s defense apparently mistook this match for a friendly park game.
- Ajax 2 - 0 Telstar (August 10, 2025): Yes, Telstar. Not the satellite, but a football team. Ajax did win, so let’s count it.
- Ajax 2 - 2 AS Monaco (August 3, 2025): The kind of result where Ajax fans say, “Could have been worse.”
So, what we’re seeing here is a club that still remembers it’s Ajax but sometimes forgets during matches, like a goldfish with amnesia.
Heracles Almelo: The Team That Just Won’t Quit
Now, Heracles Almelo. If Ajax is the Hollywood superstar of Dutch football, Heracles is that one extra who shows up in every Dutch movie scene but never gets a speaking line. Still, they’re lovable.
Heracles is not exactly famous for knocking down giants, but they are famous for… well, existing. And hey, in football, sometimes existing is half the battle.
Their lineup will be missing Jeff Reine-Adélaïde and Mario Engels, which is kind of like showing up to a water gun fight without water. But worry not, Luka Kulenovic is predicted to step in, ready to try his best impression of a goal scorer.
The Injured Parade
Speaking of missing pieces, Ajax also has its own injury festival:
- Josip Sutalo: Out. Probably practicing his injury face.
- Brian Brobbey: Out. Ajax fans cried a little.
- Branco van den Boomen: Out. Which, let’s be honest, is a fantastic name. Sounds less like a footballer and more like a Dutch techno DJ.
This means Ajax has to improvise. But don’t worry, they still have Weghorst—Ajax’s Plan A, B, and C when it comes to scoring (and headbutting invisible defenders).
The Lineup Circus
Predicted formations:
- Ajax (4-3-3): Classic Ajax. Because if Ajax ever stopped using 4-3-3, Johan Cruijff’s ghost would storm the pitch with a chalkboard. Key men: Wout Weghorst, Steven Berghuis, and Oscar Gloukh—the Israeli wonderkid who plays like he’s controlling the game from a PlayStation.
- Heracles (4-2-3-1): More cautious. Because when you’re playing Ajax away, you don’t really “attack,” you just pray. Luka Kulenovic will lead the line, probably spending most of his time waiting for a pass that never comes.
Oscar Gloukh: The Wonderkid with Wi-Fi
Now, we have to talk about Oscar Gloukh. This guy is Ajax’s young Israeli talent who has creativity, vision, and ambition—basically, everything you’d want in a player except maybe the ability to teleport. Still, watching him play is like watching someone install a new update on your old iPhone—it’s fast, confusing, but somehow makes sense in the end.
If Ajax scores today, don’t be surprised if Gloukh’s fingerprints are all over it. Figuratively, not literally, because football still hasn’t introduced fingerprint-scanning goal celebrations.
Wout Weghorst: The Human Sledgehammer
Wout Weghorst is the kind of striker who doesn’t finesse goals; he forces them. If the ball doesn’t want to go in, he will pick it up, stare it down, and headbutt it into the net by sheer intimidation. Watching him play is like watching a man who was accidentally dropped into the 21st century from a Viking ship.
Heracles defenders tonight? Let’s just say they might wake up tomorrow morning with Wout-shaped nightmares.
Jorrel Hato: The Teenager on Duty
Ajax is also expected to bring Jorrel Hato into the mix. He’s young, talented, and already has fans comparing him to legends. Which is a lot of pressure. At his age, most kids are stressing about math homework, but Hato is out here stopping Eredivisie strikers. If he pulls off a good game today, expect headlines like: “Hato Saves Ajax—Again.”
Heracles Almelo: Luka Kulenovic and the Lone Mission
Heracles fans will be placing their hopes on Luka Kulenovic, who has the unlucky job of replacing a suspended player. That’s like being told, “Hey, Ronaldo can’t make it today, can you fill in?” Best of luck to him. If he scores against Ajax, Almelo might declare a public holiday.
The Stadium Vibes
The Johan Cruijff ArenA will be buzzing. Ajax fans are expecting domination, while Heracles fans are mostly there to say, “We were part of history.” Because if Heracles manages even a draw here, it’ll be spoken of for decades in Almelo pubs.
Past Meetings: Ajax’s Playground
In the last six matches between Ajax and Heracles:
- Ajax won five times.
- One match was a draw.
- Heracles wins? About as common as spotting a unicorn on Dutch highways.
The most recent encounter ended 4-0 for Ajax (Feb 16, 2025). Which tells you everything: Heracles didn’t just lose, they got a free Ajax masterclass in humiliation.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast as part of the Eredivisie package. Depending on where you live, you can catch it on sports channels or streaming platforms like STARZ ON. Or, if you’re really committed, you can climb on top of the Johan Cruijff ArenA with binoculars—though I don’t recommend it.
The Predictions
So, what’s going to happen? Let’s be real:
- Ajax is missing a few players, but even Ajax’s bench could probably outplay most Eredivisie mid-table sides.
- Heracles will fight hard, but they’re up against a team with Wout Weghorst, Oscar Gloukh, and an arena full of fans chanting like they’re auditioning for “The Voice.”
Likely Scenario:
Ajax 3 - 0 Heracles.
Weghorst scores two, Gloukh assists both, and Heracles defenders question their life choices.
Funny Alternative Scenario:
Heracles pulls off a miracle 1-1 draw. Luka Kulenovic scores in the 93rd minute, Ajax fans faint, and Johan Cruijff’s ghost angrily cancels his Netflix subscription in protest.
Final Thoughts
Ajax vs. Heracles Almelo isn’t just a football match. It’s tradition. It’s theater. It’s like watching Shakespeare, except instead of swords, you have Wout Weghorst’s forehead.
For Ajax, it’s about proving they still belong among the Dutch elite. For Heracles, it’s about surviving and maybe sneaking a goal when nobody’s looking. Either way, August 24, 2025, is guaranteed entertainment.
So grab your popcorn, tune in, and watch as the kings of Amsterdam try to remind everyone why they’re Ajax—while Heracles Almelo does everything in their power to make sure this isn’t just another Ajax victory parade.