Prediction: Ajax vs Ludogorets

Verdict: Ajax to score in both halves

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Simply looking to finish off their qualifying job on Thursday night and punch their Europa League group stage ticket, Ajax will welcome Ludogorets to Amsterdam.

Ajax

Starting with the hosts, coming under a fair amount of scrutiny last season as they eventually had to settle for a bronze medal finish among Holland’s elite, Ajax have endured somewhat of a transition over the summer. Opening the 2023/24 Eredivisie campaign with a rampant display in Amsterdam as they cruised their way to a routine 4-1 victory against Heracles, Maurice Steijn’s men will also take plenty of positives away from their stellar first-leg performance on foreign soil last week. Eventually storming their way to another 4-1 victory, the Dutch giants firmly have one foot in the group stage of this year’s Europa League. Although the former Sparta Rotterdam boss will be desperate for his squad to find some much-needed defensive resolve, Ajax have opened the new season in the midst of quite the free-scoring flurry. Notching 10 strikes in their opening three appearances across all competitions, Steijn’s side will be looking to make another statement here.

Team News

Watching last week’s hat-trick hero Mohamed Kudus make the move to Premier League outfit West Ham just a few days ago, Ajax will be unable to call upon their attacking talisman here. Nevertheless, notching five goals in his last six appearances continuing on from their pre-season preparations, Brian Brobbey will spearhead Steijn’s attack on Thursday night.

Forced to settle for a spot on the bench out in Bulgaria last week, former Manchester City starlet Carlos Borges could be handed a first Europa League start.

Ludogorets

As for the visitors, completely blown away on home soil last week and eventually slumping to that 4-1 first-leg defeat, Ludogorets will know that they are seeking a major qualifying miracle here. Nevertheless, although the reigning Bulgarian champions might have made an immediate return to winning ways over the weekend as they claimed a routine 5-0 romp against Beroe while on domestic duties, the Eagles have struggled to find any kind of stability since opening the 2023/24 campaign. Quickly gaining a reputation for their rather glaring issues on the road, Ivaylo Petev will have a mounting headache over his side’s struggles away from the Huvepharma Arena. Last seen on their travels getting hit with a woeful 1-0 loss at the hands of Cherno More, it should be highlighted that Ludogorets have remarkably lost five of their previous six away fixtures across all competitions – a run that stems back to June 7th.

Team News

Both still dealing with long-term injury issues and missing out on first-leg duties last week, Ludogorets will once again be without the duo of Denny Gropper and Anton Nedyalkov on Thursday night. Likewise, Petev is still sweating over the fitness of 26-year-old Kwadwo Duah due to a recent ankle issue.

Bagging what turned out to be a consolation first-leg strike at the Huvepharma Arena last week, Olivier Verdon will once again partner ex-Levski defender Noah Sundberg at the back.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met for their first-leg meeting last week, Ajax breezed their way to a 4-1 romp at the Huvepharma Arena.
• Thursday’s hosts have notched 10 strikes from their opening three appearances across all competitions.
• 21-year-old Dutch international Brian Brobbey has scored five goals in his last six appearances continuing on from Ajax’s pre-season run.
• Ludogorets have remarkably lost five of their previous six showdowns away from the Huvepharma Arena – a run that stems back to June 7th.
• The Eagles have seen seven of their previous eight appearances across all formats finish with over 2.5 goals.

Conclusion

Putting in a rampant first-leg performance on foreign soil last week as they breezed their way to that stellar 4-1 romp, Ajax will simply be looking to make another European statement here. Quickly gaining a reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third and notching 10 strikes from their first three appearances, it is no surprise why the Dutch giants are tipped as a landslide contender when they return to Amsterdam in midweek. Meeting a Ludogorets squad that have remarkably lost five of their previous six showdowns away from the Huvepharma Arena, it is hard to see anything other than another rampant home victory in Amsterdam.

Verdict: Ajax to score in both halves

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet