There were not many changes at Ajax compared to the quarterfinals of the cup against Vitesse (5-0 win). Only Noussair Mazraoui returned to the starting eleven. Ryan Gravenberch, who returned from a corona infection, started on the couch.
Ajax developed a lot of pressure on the Twente goal in the first twenty minutes, but was unable to break open the defence. Twente put it down well, kept the spaces small and was also always well positioned for the crosses towards the sixteen. The only real chance was for the visitors, where Ricky van Wolfswinkel hit the crossbar and the post with one header.
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In the 28th minute there was the first Ajax danger. Dusan Tadic came in in Antony style and forced Lars Unnerstall to a good save with his lesser right leg. A few minutes later, the keeper was wrong with a corner kick extended by Sébastien Haller. In the end it was Mister 1-0 Davy Klaassen who was in the right place to tap in. Mazraoui had the 2-0 on his shoe moments later, but he failed to make good contact with a nice cross from Steven Berghuis. Then it was Unnerstall who kept his team going with a save on a bet by Antony and especially Klaassen.
Lars Unnerstall had a race full of ups and downs.
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After the break, the German cheerfully continued to make beautiful saves, this time with a header from Antony. Yet Unnerstall also alternated this handsome save with making a crucial slip. He did not process a shot from Jurriën Timber well, after which Haller thoughtfully tapped in. After that, Tadic should have made the 3-0 from eleven meters, but just like last week in almost the same way he saw his bet turned by Unnerstall.
The third came. After a good combination between Berghuis and substitute Gravenberch, Robin Pröpper gave the ball the last push into his own goal. Then it also became 4-0 by Haller who tapped in a cross from Antony. Shortly afterwards, the Ivorian also scored his hat trick and his sixteenth goal of the Eredivisie season on the advice of Nicolas Tagliafico.
As a result, Ajax has a dream start to 2022 on the field. The team from Amsterdam has won all four Eredivisie matches against direct competitor PSV and three teams against which points were lost before the winter break.