Highlighted: Contrast is significant in de Klassieker

Ajax is experiencing its third-worst start ever in an Eredivisie season, with only the 1958/59 and 1964/65 seasons seeing the Amsterdam club collect fewer points in the first four match rounds (4, equivalent to 3 points per win). If they suffer another loss this weekend, Ajax will find themselves with a maximum of six points after five matches for only the second time in club history, the first instance being in the aforementioned 1964/65 season when they had 4 points. During that season, Ajax also suffered their largest-ever defeat in a Classic, losing 9-4 to Feyenoord as visitors. To this day, it remains Ajax's biggest defeat in the Eredivisie.

At Feyenoord, the mood is currently completely reversed. They defeated Celtic 2-0 in the Champions League, and in the Eredivisie, things have been going smoothly for them in recent weeks. Feyenoord managed to score at least five goals in three consecutive Eredivisie matches for the first time since 1958. They have never achieved this in four consecutive Eredivisie games, and given the form of the opponent, it cannot be ruled out with one hundred percent certainty that history will be made. However, even with a narrow victory, Feyenoord fans will undoubtedly be satisfied. Last season, the Rotterdam side secured a spectacular but close 2-3 win at the Johan Cruijff Arena. The last time Feyenoord won in Amsterdam in two consecutive Eredivisie seasons was in 1985/86 and 1986/87.

Looking at the gameplay, Feyenoord fans have been treated to a spectacle in the Eredivisie so far. For the first time since 1974/75, the Rotterdam club has scored at least nineteen goals in the first five Eredivisie matches (back then, it was 20). Additionally, in terms of shots per game, Feyenoord is leading the Eredivisie this season. Ajax should take heed because they have, on average, faced five more shots per game than Feyenoord.

Nevertheless, Ajax is not without a chance in advance because a Classic can bring out special qualities in a team. The Amsterdammers demonstrated this in April of this year in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup. The team, led by John Heitinga at the time, went to De Kuip with two winless games, but managed to secure a spot in the final in the lion's den.