Aston Villa vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-03-13 20:00.
[p]Aston Villa and Ajax couldn’t be separated in Amsterdam last week (0-0), meaning this game is a straight shootout to secure a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) quarter-finals. The home side come into the contest with bruised confidence after being demolished 4-0 by Tottenham on Sunday, a defeat that handed manager Unai Emery his joint-heaviest career home loss. [/p]
[p]That added to what is a concerning run of form at Villa Park for the Premier League outfit who have now suffered defeat in four of their last five home matches (W1) – they’d lost just one of their prior 15 home competitive games this season before that. Perhaps being back in continental action can help break that streak for Villa who do hold a solid record of losing just one of their last seven home European matches (W5, D1), winning all four this season.  [/p]
[p]Although not as bad as their hosts, Ajax also suffered an underwhelming result on Sunday as they drew 2-2 at home with mid-table Fortuna Sittard. It’s now just one 90-minute win in nine games for the four-time European champions who continue to look like a shadow of the great sides that have come before them. [/p]
[p]Things could yet get worse for John van ‘t Schip’s men with the Dutch side notoriously having struggled on these shores in recent years. You’d have to go back to their 2018/19 Champions League semi-final first-leg win at Tottenham (1-0) for their last success on English soil, with all four games away to Premier League sides since ending in defeat – including a 2-0 loss to Brighton in October. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Villa’s Ollie Watkins is without a goal in his past two UECL matches, but he did score after half-time in the two games in the competition before that, both coming against Dutch opposition in AZ Alkmaar. Brian Brobbey scored late on Sunday to make it three goals in his last four Ajax league appearances, but he’s yet to score in UECL action with this set to be his fourth match in this season’s competition. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ajax have been eliminated in all three previous instances when they were held to a goalless draw at home in a European first leg – including last season against Union Berlin. [/p]