Ajax vs Lazio prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-11 20:00.
[p]Ajax are stuttering towards the end of the calendar year as ahead of UEFA Europa League (UEL) matchday six, they’ve won just one of their last four competitive fixtures (D1, L2). That run started with their matchday five defeat to Real Sociedad (L 2-0), but as they’re otherwise unbeaten in the league phase this term (W3, D1) they’re still on track for the Round of 16.[/p]
[p]They’ve won eight of their last nine competitive home matches (D1) while scoring an average of 3.11 goals per game so they should fancy their chances of getting back to winning ways against Lazio. This should at least be a calmer affair than their last European game here (W 5-0 v Maccabi Tel Aviv), a fixture played against the backdrop of rising Israeli-Palestine tensions which resulted in violence across Amsterdam.[/p]
[p]Surprisingly given their combined experience on the European stage, this will be the first meeting between these two sides, although Lazio have an underwhelming record against other Dutch clubs in major European competitions (W5, D2, L6). They will see this as an opportunity to improve that given they led the league phase standings after matchday five (W4, D1) and have just beaten Napoli twice in a row across league and cup. [/p]
[p]The latter of those two triumphs (W 1-0) came away from home, and the 1997/98 UEFA Cup runners-up have now won back-to-back UEL away games for the first time since 2017. The first of those wins in 2017 (W 3-2 v Vitesse Arnhem) and their latest such triumph (W 2-0 v Twente) were both against Dutch sides, which should offer further encouragement.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Mika Godts returned from injury to score against AZ on Sunday (L 2-1), netting his third goal in his last four appearances – four of his last five competitive goals arrived after the 70th minute. Lazio’s Dutch forward Tijjani Noslin amassed four goal contributions during their victories against Napoli (G3, A1) but he’s never won when facing Ajax (D1, L4)![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ajax are yet to concede in the opening hour in the UEL league phase this term.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]