Dutch giants Ajax are set to host Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday at Johan Cruijff ArenA in their fourth Europa League game of the season.
The hosts are fourth in the Europa League table with seven points from their three games and beat Qarabag FK 3-0 on October 24, whereas the away side are third last in 34th place and lost 2-1 against Real Sociedad on October 24.
Match preview
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Ajax comprehensively beat Qarabag last time out in the Europa League, restricting them to just 0.09 xG, though they were aided by the fact that their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute and later nine men in the 79th minute.
In their previous matches in the Europa League, De Godenzonen drew 1-1 with Slavia Prague in early October and beat Besiktas 4-0 in late September, and they have scored the third most goals of any team in the competition at this stage.
Boss Francesco Farioli will also be pleased that his team are seemingly in contention for the Eredivisie title once more given they are currently in second place with 25 points from 10 matches, five points from leaders PSV Eindhoven with a game in hand.
Farioli's side finished in fifth place last term with 56 points, 35 points behind champions PSV, but if they were to maintain their record of 2.5 points per game this term they would end the 2024-25 season with 85 points.
Ajax have won their six most recent games and have also prevailed in 11 and drawn two of their last 13 matches.
The hosts have either won or progressed from their last nine home fixtures and have triumphed in or advanced from their last five Europa League games at Johan Cruijff ArenA, scoring 11 goals and conceding on two occasions.
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The visitors come into the clash having deservedly lost against Real Sociedad, a match in which the Israeli side had only 37% possession and produced just one big chance, while their opponents produced three big chances.
In their 2024-25 Europa League campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv have conceded four of their six goals in the 64th minute or later.
Manager Zarko Lazetic's side are third in their domestic league with 19 points after nine matchweeks and are level on points with first-placed Maccabi Haifa.
Lazetic's team are in poor form considering they have lost five, drawn one and won two of their eight most recent games, including their most recent three by a cumulative score of 6-2.
Maccabi Tel Aviv have lost two of their last three away games, but to their credit they did win four and draw one of the prior five matches on the road.
Team News
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The home team have no confirmed absentees, though they have several doubts, including forwards Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Julian Rijkhoff, as well as midfielders Kristian Hlynsson and Sivert Heggheim Mannsverk.
Kian Fitz-Jim, Jordan Henderson and Kenneth Taylor could start in midfield, while Christian Kjelder Rasmussen, Wout Weghorst and Mika Godts may start in attack.
Centre-back Gaston Avila is also a doubt, so expect Daniele Rugani and Josip Sutalo to be selected in the heart of defence.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without the suspended winger Osher Davida, as well as left-back Roy Revivo.
Roei Mashpati is likely to start in goal, and he could be shielded by a defence consisting of Tyrese Asante, Nemanja Stojic, Raz Shlomo and Ofir Davidzada.
In the forward line, Weslley Patati, Dor Peretz and Ido Shahar are probable candidates to feature behind striker Elad Madmon.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Rugani, Sutalo, Hato; Fitz-Jim, Henderson, Taylor; Rasmussen, Weghorst, Godts
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Mashpati; Asante, Stojic, Shlomo, Davidzada; Kanikovski, Sissokho; Patati, Peretz, Shahar; Madmon
We say: Ajax 3-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
It is difficult to ignore Ajax's strong home form and good overall showings in the Europa League so far, and they should be favourites on Thursday.
It would not be surprising if the hosts scored multiple goals against Maccabi Tel Aviv given the visitors have struggled away from home recently.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
