The Amsterdammers are licking their wounds after a 4-0 home hammering at the hands of Real Madrid on Tuesday confirmed their elimination from the Champions League at the group stage. Add to that a three-game winless run in the Dutch top flight and the news of a seven-game ban for star striker Luis Suarez for biting an opponent last weekend, and the need for three points has rarely been greater during coach Martin Jol's 18 months at the helm. A trip to second-bottom Venlo this weekend could be just the tonic for Ajax, with the Amsterdammers enjoying a 4-0 victory in this fixture last season. And De Zeeuw knows nothing less than a win will do this time around, saying: "Last year we did it well and we won. "We must do so again this year." VVV were boasting the talents of Japan star Keisuke Honda when these sides met in last season's corresponding fixture, but with his departure to CSKA Moscow last winter, De Zeeuw concedes the outlook is bleak for this weekend's opponents. "VVV with or without a Honda is a world of difference," he added on the club's website. The weekend's action gets under way tomorrow night with leaders PSV Eindhoven making the trip to face NAC Breda. PSV are now three games unbeaten as they recover from their first defeat of the season against FC Twente at the end of October, and NAC interim coach Gert Aandewiel knows his players are in for a stern examination at the Rat Verlegh Stadion. "They have a lot of quality in all areas and even on the bench. It seems logical that PSV will come to Breda to win," said Aandewiel. "They have not incurred much loss of points in the race for the title but the distance to second-placed FC Twente is not great. "We have something to do. I expect a tough contest." Saturday's fixtures kick off with fifth-placed AZ Alkmaar hosting Heerenveen in eighth, while PSV's nearest challengers Twente are away to NEC Nijmegen later in the evening. Roda JC's home game with third-placed FC Groningen and Excelsior's trip to bottom side Willem II wrap up Saturday's contests. On Sunday, De Graafschap host Vitesse Arnhem, struggling Feyenoord welcome ADO Den Haag and FC Utrecht visit Heracles Almelo.
