Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion to win 2-1
Best Odds: 7/1
Ajax and Brighton and Hove Albion will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League this week. The Group B match between the Dutch Eredivisie club and the Premier League outfit will be held at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam and is scheduled to kick off at 5:45 pm UK time on Thursday.
Ajax
Ajax are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are a true powerhouse in the Netherlands. They have won the UEFA Champions League as many as four times and the Dutch Eredivisie title on as many as 36 occasions, but there is a genuine chance that they could end up getting relegated to the second tier of Dutch football at the end of the season.
De Godenzonen are as low as 11th in the Dutch Eredivisie table at the moment with 11 points from 10 matches. Ajax are only three points ahead of bottom side Vitesse. Encouraging for the Amsterdam club, they have won their last two league games under caretaker manager John van ‘t Schip.
Ajax are at the bottom of UEFA Europa League Group B at the moment with two points from three matches. They are three points behind leaders Marseille and two points behind AEK Athens and Brighton and Hove Albion, who are second and third respectively in the standings. Ajax lost 2-0 to Brighton in England in the reverse fixture last month.
Team News:
Ajax are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Ramaj will be in goal for the home side and will have Rensch, Sutalo, Hato and Sosa ahead of him in defence. Boomen, Taylor and Tahirovic will be the three midfielders. Berghuis, Akpom and Bergwijn will be the forwards. Silvert Mannsverk, Jay Gorter and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are out.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion are doing well in the Premier League and have been a breath of fresh air in English football. Under manager Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton are playing wonderful attacking football and could be in the running for a UEFA Champions League place in the Premier League table.
The Seagulls are seventh in the Premier League table at the moment with 18 points from 11 matches. Brighton are six points behind Arsenal in fourth. However, De Zerbi’s side have not been in great form lately. They have won lost two and drawn three of their last five Premier League games.
Brighton have been disappointing in the UEFA Europa League so far this campaign. The Seagulls have picked up just four points from three matches. However, Brighton could still end up winning the group. That is because they are only a point behind leaders Marseille and level on points with second-placed AEK Athens.
Team News:
Brighton and Hove Albion could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Steele will be in goal and will have Veltman, Hecke, Dunk and Milner ahead of him in defence. Gross and Gilmour will be the two holding midfielders for the Seagulls. Ferguson will lead the line for Brighton and will have Fati, Pedro and Mitoma behind him in attacking midfield. Julio Enciso, Solly March, Pervis Estupinan and Danny Welbeck are out.
Key Factors to Consider
- Ajax have won 1 out of 5 UEFA Europa League matches this season (including qualifiers).
- Ajax have won their last 2 competitive matches after a loss of four games in a row.
- Brighton and Hove Albion have won 1 out of 3 UEFA Europa League games this season.
- Brighton and Hove Albion have won 1 of their last 6 competitive games.
- Joao Pedro has scored four goals in 3 UEFA Europa League matches for Brighton and Hove Albion.
Conclusion
Ajax have been terrible all season, and although they are at home for the match against Brighton and Hove Albion, it is hard to see anything but a win for the Premier League club in Amsterdam. It is not going to be easy, though. It is very likely that a single goal will separate the two teams in the end.
Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion to win 2-1
Best Odds: 7/1
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