On Wednesday evening, from 20:00, Ajax receives the visit of the Danes from Midtjylland, in the 4th stage of the groups from the Champions League. Both teams have some lot problems, and bookmakers consider the “spearmen” to be big favorites at home, in Amsterdam. As they showed in the tour, Erik Ten Hag’s students have at least one class over their rivals.
Ajax approach the game without Kudus, injured, while Antony, Klaassen, Labyad and Mazraoui are uncertain. But the last three have a good chance of being recovered, so Ajax can line up a very solid first “11”. The Danes come to the match without Evander and Brumado, injured, and the absence of the Brazilians from the Nordic camp could be decisive. In addition, neither James, Pfeiffer and Riis can play for Midtjylland, all of them with older medical problems. Under these conditions, the Nordics will line up a predominantly defensive formula, especially in the first half.
In group D, Aja is fighting a hard battle with Atalanta, for the qualification in the next phase of the competition. Liverpool leads the group with 9 points in 3 matches, thus having a maximum score (8-0 goal difference). Atalanta and Ajax have 4 points each, but the “lancers” boast a better goal difference, because the Italians were crushed by the “cormorants” in the direct match. The last one in the group is, obviously, Midtjylland, which has managed only one goal so far, in three games. With no points, the Danes have little hope for a place in the spring Europa League.
Ajax is a real “goal machine” this season as well, coming after a series of four consecutive victories, with Heracles (5-0), Utrecht (3-0), Midtjylland (2-1) and Sittard (5-2 ). In the round, at Herning, Ajax quickly distanced themselves on the table, managing to open the score in the first minute of the game! Even despite some group problems, Erik Ten Hag quickly found the winning solution, and the Dutch domination was unquestionable. Since then, Midtjylland has managed three domestic victories in a row: 4-0 with FC Copenhagen, 1-0 at Koge (in the Cup) and 2-1 at Aarhus. The difference in value remains, however, indisputable, and the statistics recommend a spectacular match.
Ajax: Onana; Klaiber, Schuurs, Martinez, Tagliafico; Labyad, Blind, Gravenberch; Neres, Traore, Tadic
Coach: Ten Hag
FC Midtjylland: Andersen; Andersson, Sviatchenko, Scholz, Paulinho; Onyeka, Cajuste; Dreyer, Sisto, Mabil; Kaba
Coach: Priske
Midtjylland lost the last three European trips with an overall goal difference of 0-8;
Dusan Tadic (Ajax) can be decisive again, being Ajax’s top scorer – 2 successes in UCL;
In 5 of the last 6 matches played against the rival from the 4th ballot box in the UCL groups, Ajax beat the handicap;
At least three goals have been scored in the last 6 consecutive matches of Ajax;
In 7 of the last 9 matches of Midtjylland, at least 3 goals have been scored;
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,41
