Bodo/Glimt vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-21 17:45.
Bodø/Glimt were left reeling after the first leg of this UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-off tie as they let a comfortable 2-0 lead away to Ajax slip by conceding twice in second-half stoppage time. They also lost defender Odin Luras Bjørtuft to a red card in those dying minutes, and with their domestic campaign not starting again until April, the Norwegian champions will have had a full week to dwell on that late catalogue of errors.
Despite last week’s frustrations, Bodø have progressed on the two previous occasions when they have drawn the first leg away in a European tie, and both first legs also coincidentally finished 2-2. That good omen is enhanced by the fact they’ve also won 19 of their last 23 home European games, including five of their seven this season (D1, L1).
Having stung their hosts late on in Amsterdam, Ajax were on the receiving end of that pain this past weekend as they conceded late to NEC, forcing them to settle for a second successive 2-2 home draw in the space of just a few days. Consequently, the faltering Dutch champions travel to Norway without a win in any of their previous four competitive outings (D3, L1).
While Ajax boast a rich European pedigree, both form and more recent history look against them here. Notably, they have drawn the first leg at home in a UEFA club competition tie on 14 previous occasions and have suffered ten aggregate eliminations, most recently against Union Berlin at this stage of last season's Europa League (3-1)!
Players to watch: Albert Grønbæk scored a brace in last week’s first leg and registered an assist in Bodø’s last home UECL match. Forward Brian Brobbey has scored five combined goals across Ajax’s last five competitive away matches.
Hot stat: Excluding qualifying, Ajax have failed to win seven of their last eight European away games (D2, L5).