Ajax vs Besiktas prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-25 19:00.
[p]It’s been another slow start to the season for Ajax, who after four Eredivisie games (W2, D1, L1) find themselves well off the title pace. They’ll now have to split their attention between domestic and European competition as their UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign gets underway against a Beşiktaş side who Ajax have beaten in all six prior H2Hs – their best 100% winning record against a single opponent in major European competition. [/p]
[p]Four wins ‘to nil’ from their five home outings inside 90 minutes in all competitions this season (L1) would suggest they’re good value to build on that winning run here. A mere two defeats from their last 20 UEL home games (W13, D5) would support that sentiment, but the fact both of those losses came in their last five such games would suggest Ajax aren’t quite as imperious as they once were in Europe. [/p]
[p]Beşiktaş will be looking to take advantage of that vulnerability, and amidst an unbeaten start to their Turkish top-flight campaign (W4, D1) they should feel confident of doing so. They needed a 93rd minute winner to post their fourth league win of the season on Sunday against Eyüpspor, but transferring that form into a competition they’ve struggled in recently could prove problematic.[/p]
[p]Their last UEL group/league phase appearance back in 2019/20 was something of a disaster, with the Turkish side bringing up the rear in their group. That included taking some heavy beatings on the road, where they lost all three group games and conceded at least three times in each, and after conceding three away to Lugano in their UEL play-off (D 3-3), they must be fearing a repeat of history. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Kenneth Taylor has scored in Ajax’s last two home outings and he was also on target in two of their three UEL home group games last season. Ciro Immobile was Beşiktaş’ hero against Eyüpspor, but peculiarly three of his last four UEL scoring appearances ended 2-2, while three of his last four goals in the competition came from the penalty spot. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of Beşiktaş’ last seven UEL games witnessed over 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]