Qarabag vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 16:45.
[p]It’s been a sobering start to this UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign for Qarabağ, who’ve conceded five times across a pair of defeats to Tottenham and Malmö. A repeat of their run to the last 16 of this competition last season is looking unlikely so far, and any recovery may have to wait considering they’re winless in four previous meetings with Dutch opposition (D3, L1).[/p]
[p]None of those came in the main draw of a UEFA competition however, nor were they against four-time champions of the continent Ajax. One thing the Horsemen do have working in their favour here is the fact they’ve scored in four successive UEL home games, albeit the last three matches in that run failed to yield a victory (D1, L2).[/p]
[p]That’s a run Ajax will be keen to extend as they arrive in Azerbaijan full of confidence. Francesco Farioli’s men are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions (W7, D2), earning four points from their opening two UEL matches. The Dutch giants are therefore well placed to secure qualification to the knockout stages, but they could do with ending a six-match winless run on the road in the UEL proper (D3, L3).[/p]
[p]In fact, Ajax have won just two of their last 15 away matches in the main draw of this competition (D6, L7), yet their exploits in qualifying this season where they won three successive UEL away games shows they can withstand the pressure. Farioli’s side displayed their resilience on the road at the weekend too, twice coming from behind to win at Heracles (4-3). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Having netted six times in 12 UEL appearances for Qarabağ, another strike here would make Juninho the club’s joint-leading scorer in this competition. Wout Weghorst has hit a rich vein of form since returning from injury, directly contributing to four goals in two substitute appearances for Ajax (G3, A1).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Of teams to have played at least 50 games since the UEL was rebranded in 2009, no team has a higher loss rate than QarabaÄź (55%).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]