Eintracht Frankfurt vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-03-12 17:45.
[p]With unfavourable away form that featured no wins in their previous four road trips (D2, L2), Eintracht Frankfurt travelled to Amsterdam for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) last-16 tie with Ajax as underdogs, only for Dino Toppmöller’s men to defy the odds with a come-from-behind 2-1 win. The Eagles have since been brought back down to earth, suffering a third successive Bundesliga defeat at the weekend, losing 2-1 to Union Berlin.[/p]
[p]That was also their second consecutive loss on home soil, which has come as a shock to the Deutsche Bank Park faithful as Eintracht’s 17 home games prior featured just one loss (W11, D5). That run includes three UEL wins that were all accompanied by a clean sheet, making this their longest run without conceding in major European home games since 1994![/p]
[p]Defeat in the first leg must have been a surprise to Eredivisie leaders Ajax, since the Dutch giants had won seven of their eight matches heading into it (L1). They did encouragingly get back in the win column at the weekend by beating Zwolle 1-0, which will serve as a confidence boost having played away from home. [/p]
[p]History is not on the side of Francesco Farioli’s men as they aim to overturn their deficit and progress to the quarter-finals, as Ajax’s last five trips to Germany have yielded just one win (D1, L3). Perhaps more worrying is the fact that the damage may have already been done, since the Dutch side have been eliminated in eight of their last nine European knockout ties when losing the first leg at home.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Hugo Larsson netted Eintracht’s equaliser in the first leg, and could be influential again since seven of his eight goals prior all came in wins at home. He might have to play catchup if Brian Brobbey has his way again, as the forward’s strike in the first leg was the fourth time he’s netted the match opener in his last five goalscoring outings. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: None of Ajax’s last 19 matches have ended in a draw (W13, L6).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]