Ajax vs Brighton Prediction and Betting Tips: Two picks for Europa League Clash

Ajax have had a woeful start to their domestic campaign but their attention turns to the Europa League on Thursday. Find below the two best bets for the game from one of our best betting-minds Jimmy The Punt...

Have Brighton been found out?

Ashley Young’s freak own goal salvaged them a point at Goodison, but it remains only two wins across the last 10 games for Roberto De Zerbi’s side. 

The poor form began with a debut defeat in Europe. Despite going off heavy odds on, Brighton lost at home to AEK Athens. It took three attempts, the reverse of this game, to secure their first European win and they need another to gain some control in Group B.

De Zerbi should rotate for the trip to Amsterdam, Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati will likely come into the XI after the pair terrorised Ajax in the reverse. The former has bagged four goals in the Europa League, a tally no player can top. 

Englishman Chuba Akpom has scored three times from the bench in his last two appearances for Ajax. The former Middlesbrough frontman still may not have done enough to dislodge Brian Brobbey in attack though. 

Offensively, Brighton are unbelievable.

In the Premier League, they are on the longest consecutive scoring run. They rank fourth for shots per game (15.4), second for big chances (3.4) and third for goals (2.3) per game. 

They have only failed to score in one of their last 24 games in all competitions (Chelsea 1-0) and this campaign, two thirds of their games have seen at least four goals. 

The Seagulls first clean sheet of the campaign came in the reverse fixture, but a fair bit has changed for the Dutch side since then.

Hedwiges Maduro took temporary charge of that game following Maurice Steijn’s dismissal, but Maduro lost both of his two games in charge (conceding seven goals) so John van 't Schip replaced him in an interim capacity. Van’t Schip will take charge of this game and, result depending, any Ajax fixture until the 30th June 2025. 

Ajax have won both of their games under the latter, scoring six goals. It is a club that prides themselves on their identity and with a Sons of the Gods ex-player at the helm they should gradually improve.

Brighton’s only win in eight games came in the reverse of this game. Over that period they have had three score draws, two score defeats and Chelsea beat them 1-0. I get why but I just cannot be having them at odds on. 

Ajax, on the other hand, are a much more palatable price. They have scored six in their last two, perhaps they have turned a corner, so I am willing to take a stab at the hosts edging a goal laden affair. 

Best of luck if you are backing any of these selections and please remember to gamble responsibly.