World-class footballing talent, a sold-out away end, and an off-season RFS squad that may lack match sharpness – the final RFS’s Europa league home fixtures could be full of surprises.
On January 23, 2025, FC RFS will take on Dutch giants AFC Ajax in their final home Europa League fixture at the Daugava Stadium in Riga. On latest accounts, over 2,500 Ajax supporters are expected to travel to Riga. For Latvians, this will be a unique encounter to experience both a brilliant atmosphere, and world class players.
As anticipation for this match builds, we explore what Latvian champions RFS and their fans can expect from the 2025 Ajax side. In the latest episode of the Baltic Football Podcast, we interviewed Thijs Zwagerman – journalist with ESPN nl and host of the ‘Het Sportpaleis’ podcast.
Here are some insights about Ajax this season.
Ajax: A Season of Rebuilding
Ajax enters the match as a team in transition. Currently sitting second in the Eredivisie, the Amsterdam-based club is showing signs of recovery under new Italian manager Francesco Farioli. After a tumultuous 2023-24 season that saw them finish fifth and lose key personnel, including 11 players who were recruited under a failed 100 million EUR recruitment strategy, Ajax has refocused on rebuilding with a mix of youth development and experienced signings.
The Italian Influence
Farioli has brought an Italian tactical approach to Ajax, emphasising defensive solidity and structured build-up play. Unlike Ajax’s historical reliance on relentless attacking football, this season’s team displays patience and pragmatism, balancing their famed 4-3-3 formation with a disciplined defensive setup. English veteran Jordan Henderson anchors the midfield as the “link-up player,” ensuring a steady transition between defense and attack. Meanwhile, young attacking players like the Dutch international Kenneth Taylor thrive in advanced roles, contributing decisively with both goals and assists.
A Blend of Experience and Youth
To address last season’s inconsistencies, Ajax has added seasoned professionals like Henderson, former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst, and Davy Klaassen (Everton and Inter Milan) to mentor a new generation of academy talents. This blend provides the team with both the stability of experienced heads, and the dynamism of youth. However, lack of squad depth remains a concern, with the gap in quality between regular starters and fringe players becoming evident any time the squad rotates heavily.
Key Ajax Players to Watch
- Kenneth Taylor: A standout performer, Taylor leads Ajax in both goals and assists this season. Operating in an advanced midfield role, he excels in exploiting space and timing runs into the box.
- Jordan Henderson: The veteran midfielder’s leadership and composure make him pivotal in dictating Ajax’s tempo and defensive transitions.
- Mika Godts and Brian Brobbey: Ajax’s forwards bring flair and creativity, with their dribbling and individual skill often unlocking stubborn defenses.
Vulnerabilities
While Ajax boasts a rich legacy and a strong starting XI, their Achilles’ heel lies in squad depth. The demanding schedule of over 60 matches this season, which, for them, began back in July, has stretched the resources thin. Rotating key players often results in a drop of performance – a factor that RFS could potentially exploit.
RFS’s Opportunity
For FC RFS, this is a rare chance to showcase Latvian football on the European stage. The challenge will be formidable, but Ajax’s vulnerabilities and the unpredictable nature of European competitions could open the door for an upset. With home support at the Daugava Stadium, RFS will aim to overcome questions about their match sharpness during this off-season period.
The pitch at Daugava Stadium, heroically and meticulously prepared to host a game of football on natural grass in the middle of Latvian winter, might provide some advantages also. Both Galatasaray and Anderlecht lost points here last autumn and the soft, cold turf may give the home side some temporary advantages at the beginning of the game and, subject to RFS’s fitness levels this pre-season, once again towards the very end.
Our Prediction
As Ajax continues to find their footing under Farioli, the match promises to be a fascinating clash of styles and strategies. For Latvian fans, this is an opportunity not just to witness a historic encounter but also to see how their champions measure up against another one of Europe’s footballing powerhouses.
AFC Ajax are outright favourites to win this game – they are half-way through their season and have some of the world’s most experienced players for their visit Riga to try and cause RFS many problems. RFS have only just returned from their pre-season break and will likely be out-of-sync as they are yet to play a competitive game, which brings an motivational energy that preseason warming-up teams will likely not have. Indeed, RFS have never played a competitive game in January in the history of the club. The Latvian Champions played three friendlies in January, winning two and losing one – with two latest ones not exactly being a show of force that could intimidate the likes of Ajax. They will be lacking sharpness, stamina for a full 90 minute match, and with a number of key players having departed (and the club unable to register their replacements due to UEFA competition regulations) will also be weak in certain areas of the field.
Let’s hope the spirit of the Danish team that won the 1992 EUROs despite not originally qualified for the tournament and with the squad pulled away from their holidays can encourage RFS!
Tickets still available: https://www.passportix.eu/pasakumi/rfs-vs-ajax?event=445