Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion to win 3-0
Brighton and Hove Albion will lock horns with Ajax in the UEFA Europa League this week. The match between the Premier League club and the Dutch Eredivisie outfit will be held at the American Express Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Thursday.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion are fast becoming a team that everybody loves and enjoys watching. Under manager Roberto De Zerbi, the Seagulls are playing wonderful football and are doing extremely well in the Premier League.
The Seagulls are seventh in the Premier League table at the moment with 16 points from nine matches, four points behind Liverpool in fourth. Brighton are unlikely to challenge for the Premier League title, but they could end up challenging for the top four
Brighton, though, are doing that well in the UEFA Europa League. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are at the bottom of Group B with just one point from two matches, three points behind leaders AEK Athens and a point behind Ajax in third.
Team News:
Brighton and Hove Albion are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Verbruggen will be in goal for the Seagulls. Veltman, Dunk, Webster and Igor will be the four defenders. Gilmour and Gross will be the two holding midfielders and will have Adingra, Fati and Mitoma ahead of them in attacking midfield. Ferguson will lead the line for the Seagulls.
Ajax
Ajax are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and are a heavyweight in the Netherlands, but they are not doing particularly well at the moment. In fact, there is a very good chance that they could have a disastrous season.
Hedwiges Maduro’s side are second from bottom in the Eredivisie table at the moment with five points from seven matches. Ajax are only a point above FC Volendam, who have played eight games. Ajax are in real danger of getting relegated to the second division of Dutch football at the end of the season.
Ajax are third from bottom in UEFA Europa League Group B at the moment with two points from two matches, two points behind leaders AEK Athens. They are a point ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion in fourth.
Team News:
Ajax are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Gorter will be in goal for the Dutch giants. Gaaei, Sutalo, Hato and Sosa will be the four defenders and will have Taylor, Tahirovic and Vos in midfield. Forbs, Brobbey and Bergwijn will form the front three.
Key Factors to Consider
- Brighton and Hove Albion will be the first English side to meet Ajax in the Uefa Europa League group stages.
- Ajax have lost six of their last seven meetings with Premier League clubs in major European competition.
- Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke has carried the ball 685m in this season’s Europa League, more than any other player.
- Ajax are unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League group stage games since a 1-0 loss at Fenerbahce in October 2015.
- Joao Pedro has scored 5 goals and given 1 assist in 12 competitive matches for Brighton and Hove Albion.
Conclusion
Ajax are a mess at the moment, and it is hard to see the Dutch club be a major threat to Brighton and Hove Albion. Brighton are a better team and play better football, and it is very likely that the Seagulls will win the match comfortably.
Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion to win 3-0
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
