Ajax play host to Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening looking to bolster their hopes of winning the Europa Conference League.
The Dutch giants enter the playoff stage of this competition having finished third in their Europa League group, while the visitors were second behind Club Brugge in their Europa Conference League equivalent.
Match preview
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During the early part of this season, Ajax were facing the prospect of a relegation battle and failing to have European football on their calendar after Christmas.
To the credit of interim boss John van't Schip, he has ensured that both threats went away, yet Ajax continue to look far from convincing.
At the weekend, they went down 3-2 at Heerenveen, a result which has left them nine points adrift of FC Twente and with a trip to fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar to come before the end of the month.
The onus has been placed on this competition, particularly with Ajax already out of the KNVB Beker, and it took a 3-1 victory over AEK Athens just to ensure that they finished third adrift of Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille in their Europa League group.
Although Ajax have generally been impressive going forward, 12 matches have now passed since they last kept a clean sheet in any competition.
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As far as Bodo/Glimt are concerned, they would have regarded themselves with every chance of coming through a Europa Conference League group that featured none of the tournament favourites.
They were subsequently able to finish in second place, surprisingly as many as six points ahead of Besiktas, but six points adrift of winners Club Brugge.
Nevertheless, the 2023 Eliteserien champions will be delighted to have gone through to set up a showdown with a high-profile outfit who are vulnerable.
That said, Kjetil Knutsen's side are devoid of competitive action this year courtesy of the conclusion of league matters, with two wins and two draws coming from recent friendlies, most recently prevailing 4-0 at Swedish side Malmo.
Team News
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Chuba Akpom may have played his way into the Ajax XI after scoring his ninth goal in the Eredivisie and Europa League this season at the weekend, despite remaining on four starts.
Carlos Forbs will almost certainly drop out of the team courtesy of being withdrawn at half time in the fixture with Heerenveen when Ajax were trailing by a 2-0 scoreline.
Devyne Rensch and Steven Bergwijn remain among the injured contingent so Van't Schip could make no further alterations given the magnitude of the game.
Knutsen may be prepared to select the same Bodo/Glimt XI that stormed past Malmo in a friendly last week.
With first-team goalkeeper Nikita Haikin out injured, Kjetil Haug should take his spot between the sticks, while Syver Skeide and Runar Espejord are also on the sidelines.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Gooijer, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Henderson, Taylor; Akpom, Hlynsson, Berghuis, Brobbey
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Kaug; Wembangomo, Moe, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Saltnes, Berg, Evjen, Gronbaek; Sorli, Hauge
We say: Ajax 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Given their performance at the weekend, Ajax feel in disarray once again. Nevertheless, they are never short of goals, and we are backing them to run out narrow victors in a thriller that will leave the second leg very much in the balance.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
