Brighton beat Ajax 2-0 on matchday three of the Europa League but the Dutch giants, under new manager John van 't Schip, are aiming to avenge that defeat in Thursday's Group B encounter in Amsterdam.
Ajax – 16/5
Draw – 13/4
Brighton – 8/11
Brighton to Win and Both Teams to Score – 15/8
Brighton's maiden European campaign got off to a sticky start as they lost 3-2 at home to AEK Athens and went 2-0 down in the first 20 minutes of their matchday-two trip to Marseille.
Second-half goals from Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro salvaged a 2-2 draw in France and Roberto De Zerbi's men had a more comfortable outing on matchday three, beating troubled Ajax 2-0 at the Amex Stadium.
The Dutch side, who had sacked manager Maurice Steijn just three days before their fixture against Brighton, were then thrashed 5-2 by PSV in the Eredivisie but new boss John van 't Schip has stopped the rot.
Ajax beat Volendam 2-0, keeping a rare clean sheet, before a 4-1 home win over Heerenveen last weekend although they are rated 16/5 shots to rack up another victory over 8/11 Brighton.
The Seagulls, despite their injury problems, should be too slick for their hosts although their defence, like Ajax's, has struggled to shut out opponents this season.
Saturday's 1-1 draw at Everton extended Brighton's run of Premier League matches in which both teams have scored to 15 so they are a tempting price at 15/8 to beat Ajax with goals at both ends.
Ansu Fati First Goalscorer – 13/2
European football may be a novelty for Brighton but their 21-year-old Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati is an experienced campaigner at this level.
Fati became the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history when he struck Barca's winner away to Inter Milan in December 2019 and he is flourishing after his surprise summer move to the Sussex seaside.
The Spain international is yet to start for Brighton in the Premier League but he has come off the bench to score in defeats at Aston Villa, where he had four shots in 45 minutes, and at champions Manchester City.
Fati also found the net in the Europa League home win against Ajax, finishing smartly after a clever run into the penalty area, and he is worth backing at 13/2 to open the scoring at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Jorrel Hato to be booked – 3/1
These teams are generally well-behaved – Ajax have picked up only 16 yellow cards in 10 Eredivisie matches this season and there were just two bookings, both for Brighton, in the first Group B meeting between the sides.
However, Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato could be set for a tricky evening against Brighton's fleet-footed forwards and the 17-year-old looks a decent bet at 3/1 to be cautioned.
Hato only made his senior debut in January this year but has established himself at the heart of defence since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
His two bookings came in two of Ajax's toughest Eredivisie assignments, away to Twente and PSV, and the young defender will face an even higher calibre of opponents on Thursday.
Geronimo Rulli, Sivert Mannsverk, Jay Gorter and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are injured. Former Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom scored two late goals in the weekend win over Heerenveen but may start on the bench again with Brian Brobbey leading the line.
Jakub Moder is closing in on a return from a long-term knee injury but will not be rushed back to action. Danny Welbeck, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March and Julio Enciso remain sidelined for the Seagulls.
Ajax have kept only two clean sheets in 15 games in all competitions this season
Both teams have scored in Brighton's last 15 Premier League matches
Ajax wins | 0 |
Draws | 0 |
Brighton wins | 1 |
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
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