Ajax vs Vojvodina Prediction: Hosts to capitalise on home leg

Ajax entertain Vojvodina at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday (19:30) for the first leg of their Europa League second round qualifier. The winners of this tie contest will face either Panathinaikos or Botev Plovdiv in the third qualifying round.

The hosts in particular will see progression to the Europa League group stage as a must, as they look to improve on their disappointing campaign in 2023/24. Read on for my Ajax vs Vojvodina prediction, accompanied by match odds and team news.

Ajax vs Vojvodina Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Ajax vs Vojvodina page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Ajax are the 1/9 favourites to win this match, which gives them a theoretical chance of 90%. Vojvodina are valued at 14/1, giving them an implied probability of 6.7%. The draw can be backed at 6/1 (14.3%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 11/10 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 4/11.

Football Odds

Team News

After signing for Ajax in the summer, winger Bertrand Traore will be hoping to get his first taste of European action for his new side in this clash on Thursday.

Attacking duo Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn are doubts to feature after they were given extended breaks following their involvement with the Netherlands at Euro 2024. Brobbey’s future at the club is also in doubt as there is reported interest in him from other teams across Europe.

They will, however, be without goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who is partaking in the Paris Olympics with Argentina, while Owen Wijndal is an injury doubt following an arm injury in their latest pre-season friendly against Olympiacos.

For the visitors, new addition Marko Velickovic marked his competitive debut for the club with a goal at the weekend, and he expected to continue in the attacking midfield role. Andrija Radulovic was also on the scoresheet in that match, netting from the bench, and he is set to compete with Uros Nikolic and Caleb Zady Sery for a place in the front three.

Ajax to win 2-0 @ 11/2

With Ajax offering little value to win the match outright, I have had to look elsewhere. What I have gone for here is Ajax to win 2-0 at 11/2. It’s always tricky when going for a correct score but with the Dutch side playing at home in front of their own supporters, I fancy their chances at winning this first leg.

Not to mention that there is a difference in class between them and their Serbian opponents. Yes, Ajax have been disappointing over the past 12 months, but they will be hungry to make amends this season on all fronts, and Europe will be just as important as the Eredivisie.

As they prepare for the new season, this match will serve as a good warm-up, while providing the competitive edge to get the players fired up for the new campaign. Ajax’s squad is not as strong as it has looked in recent years, but they still have more than enough on paper to get past their opponents in this qualifier.

Former Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom scored 15 goals across all competitions last term, with three coming in the Europa League. He will be eager to open his account early this year and he looks set to start up front on Thursday.

With him on the pitch, Ajax shouldn’t have too much trouble winning this game on home soil, so I think a 2-0 victory would be a smart way to go.

Under 2.5 goals @ 2/1

Which leads me on to my next selection. I think that under 2.5 goals could be a sensible way to go because of my score prediction, but because I’m still yet to be truly convinced by Ajax’s attacking players.

Akpom posted good numbers last year, but overall, the team didn’t perform well enough as they could only muster a fifth-place finish. There needs to be drastic improvements this season, which won’t happen overnight.

It’s still pre-season, so there is a likelihood that they will be rough around the edges in this tie, but it should still be more than enough against their Serbian visitors. Vojvodina are in good form, yes, but they are about to experience a big step up when they head to Amsterdam for this fixture, and I do think they will find this away leg tricky.

Offers

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