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Ajax
Europa League | Round of 16
Mar 11, 2021 at 5.55pm UK
Johan Cruijff Arena
Young Boys

Ajax
3 - 0
Young Boys

Klaassen (62'), Tadic (82'), Brobbey (90+2')
Tagliafico (53')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Lauper (49'), Aebischer (64'), Sierro (78')

Preview: Ajax vs. Young Boys - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Ajax and Young Boys, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ajax and Young Boys square off in the Europa League on Thursday night looking to edge closer to a place in the quarter-finals.

While the Dutch giants got the better of Lille in the last 32, Young Boys surprisingly edged out German outfit Bayer Leverkusen.


Match preview

Young Boys' Jordan Siebatcheu celebrates scoring their fourth goal in the Europa League on February 18, 2021© Reuters

With a six-point lead in the Eredivisie and having already reached the KNVB-Beker final, Erik ten Hag will be delighted with how Ajax are performing on the domestic scene.

However, still less than two years since their fairytale run in the Champions League, there is a demand to win another European trophy.

Although they were naturally disappointed to drop into this competition, a last-16 tie with Young Boys represents the ideal chance to move closer to a second final in four years.

Sebastien Haller remains a big miss for the Dutch outfit, but they showed in the previous round against Lille that they have enough quality to go deep in this tournament.

Ajax are currently on a 19-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Atalanta BC on December 9.

Young Boys have failed to record a win since claiming the scalp of Leverkusen last month with three successive draws being recorded in the Swiss top flight.

Nevertheless, Gerardo Seoane's team hold a 19-point advantage on the domestic scene, allowing them to focus on progressing further in the Europa League.

As clear underdogs ahead of the double-header with Leverkusen, they outclassed their most illustrious opponents in the final third, scoring six goals across the two legs.

Theoson Siebatcheu and Christian Fassnacht scored all but one of those strikes, and Seoane will hope that the pair can maintain their form for the game at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ajax Europa League form:
  • W
  • W

Ajax form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Young Boys Europa League form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W

Young Boys form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • D


Team News

Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag pictured in December 2020© Reuters

With Haller not eligible to feature in this competition, David Neres could be introduced into the Ajax XI, allowing Dusan Tadic to play down the middle.

Nicolas Tagliafico should feature at left-back after proving his fitness at the weekend, but Noussair Mazraoui and Daley Blind remain doubts for the home side.

Young Boys were dealt a blow at the weekend when goalkeeper David von Ballmoos suffered a concussion, which should result in an outing for reverse stopper Guillaume Faivre.

Meschack Elia could come back into the starting lineup as a replacement for Marvin Spielmann.

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg; Rensch, Timber, Martinez, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Gravenberch; Neres, Klaassen, Antony; Tadic

Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Faivre; Hefti, Lustenberger, Zesiger, Lefort; Fassnacht, Lauper, Aebischer, Ngamaleu; Siebatcheu, Elia


SM words green background

We say: Ajax 3-1 Young Boys

On the back of their win over Leverkusen, Young Boys will have Ajax's respect ahead of this contest. With that in mind, we expect the home side to raise their level, outclassing their Swiss foes ahead of the reverse fixture next week.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Ajax win with a probability of 57.77%. A draw had a probability of 21.6% and a win for Young Boys had a probability of 20.62%.

The most likely scoreline for an Ajax win was 2-1 with a probability of 9.91%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (9.16%) and 2-0 (9.05%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.04%), while for a Young Boys win it was 1-2 (5.5%). The actual scoreline of 3-0 was predicted with a 6% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Ajax would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Ajax vs Young Boys

Ajax
82.2%
Draw
10.7%
Young Boys
7.1%
467
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TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio33009
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4Ajax32107
5Frankfurt32107
6Midtjylland32107
7Galatasaray32107
8Bodo/Glimt32107
9Lyon32016
10Rangers32016
11Olympiacos32016
12FCSB32016
13Fenerbahce31205
14Porto31114
15Slavia Prague31114
16Real Sociedad31114
17Roma31114
18Hoffenheim31114
19AZ31023
20Man Utd30303
21Plzen30303
22Ferencvaros31023
23Elfsborg31023
24Malmo31023
25Braga31023
26Besiktas31023
27FC Twente30212
28Union SG30121
29PAOK30121
30Ludogorets30121
31Nice30121
32RFS30121
33Athletic Club00000
34M. Tel Aviv30030
35Dynamo Kiev30030
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