AEK Athens FC vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 16:45.
Competing in the group stage of a European competition for the first time in three seasons, it’s fair to say AEK Athens made an extremely impressive return with their 3-2 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on matchday one. That’s been hailed as one of the club’s greatest-ever victories on the team’s official website, and understandably so given it was their first success on English soil since 1976 and handed them an early lead in UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group B.
The Greek champions have followed that up with strong domestic results, one of which was a win at the home of last season’s league runners-up Panathinaikos (2-1). That’ll do wonders for the Yellow and Blacks’ confidence, which arguably will have needed a boost ahead of facing an Ajax side who have bettered them in each of the last four H2H meetings, with AEK scoring only once in that losing run while conceding nine times at the other end.
Two of those results contributed to Ajax’s imposing record of no defeat in their last 11 games against Greek opposition (W7, D4), a run which they’ll hope to extend here. Yet, the Dutch giants haven’t travelled well on the continent in recent times, losing five of their last six away matches in Europe (W1).
Furthermore, it’s been a tumultuous period for the club, as their clash against Feyenoord was abandoned after 55 minutes due to fan anger and protests last week, with the game resuming three days later and Feyenoord ultimately running out 4-0 winners in a game that could have huge implications in Eredivisie title race later in the season. Then remarkably, Ajax’s next contest at RKC Waalwijk was also abandoned this past weekend after opposition goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen was knocked unconscious in an accidental collision; Ajax had been leading 3-2 with just six minutes of normal time remaining.
Players to watch: One of AEK’s scorers from the 2-1 win over Atromitos this past weekend, Nordin Amrabat, was released from Ajax’s academy at 13, so he might be out to prove a point. In a further coincidence, Ajax’s summer signing Josip Šutalo scored his last goal for former club Dinamo Zagreb against AEK in the second leg of this season's Champions League third qualifying round.
Hot stat: AEK have won just two of their previous 13 home European matches (D3, L8).