Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Ajax: Europa League Play-Off Preview
Following their dramatic penalty shootout victory in the previous round, Ajax face the first leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday, with a trip to Poland to face Jagiellonia Bialystok awaiting them.
Ajax required a record-breaking 34 penalties to overcome Panathinaikos in the third round, while Jagiellonia were eliminated from the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt.
A Marathon Shootout for Ajax
Ajax secured a narrow victory over Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round after a gruelling 25-minute penalty shootout. Having won the first leg 1-0 in Athens thanks to a Steven Berghuis strike, the Dutch side looked set to progress comfortably but ultimately scraped through in the second leg.
This result marked a positive start to the new season under the management of Francesco Farioli, who arrived from Nice following Ajax's disappointing 2023-24 campaign.
The Italian coach has been tasked with rebuilding the squad after Ajax finished fifth in the Eredivisie, a staggering 35 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven. Despite a promising start to the season, Ajax stumbled at the weekend, conceding a late goal in a 2-1 defeat to NAC Breda. They will be looking to get back on track and secure a crucial away victory to put them in a strong position for the second leg.
Jagielloniaâs Title Defence Stumbles
While Ajax navigated their way through qualifying with a degree of fortune, Jagiellonia Bialystok were less fortunate in their Champions League encounter with Bodo/Glimt, losing 5-1 on aggregate. Despite claiming the Ekstraklasa title for the first time last season, Jagiellonia have experienced a stuttering start to their title defence, suffering three consecutive defeats in all competitions following their Champions League exit and a 4-2 home loss to Cracovia in the league.
This setback leaves them facing a daunting task against Ajax, but a victory would see them secure a place in the Europa League group stage. Should they fall short, a consolation prize in the form of a Conference League berth is still up for grabs.
Team News
Brian Brobbey returned to the Ajax lineup last weekend, but Chuba Akpom, the former Arsenal striker, is likely to reclaim his starting spot on Thursday. Steven Berghuis, Carlos Forbs and Steven Bergwijn are all expected to support Akpom in attack, but Bertrand Traore and Mika Godts remain viable options.
Remko Pasveer, the veteran goalkeeper, is set to start for Ajax after his impressive performance in the penalty shootout against Panathinaikos, where he saved five penalties and even scored one of his own.
Jordan Henderson will captain the away side, while Taras Romanczuk will lead Jagiellonia Bialystok. The two midfielders are expected to clash in the centre of the pitch. Jesus Imaz, who has scored three goals in European qualifying, will likely lead the line for Jagiellonia, partnering Afimico Pululu.
Damian Wojdakowski is ruled out through injury, but Jagiellonia have their key players available for selection.
Potential Starting Lineups
Jagiellonia Bialystok: Abramowicz; Sacek, Skrzpczak, Dieguez, Moutinho; Marczuk, Nene, Romanczuk, Hansen; Imaz; Pululu
Ajax: Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Taylor, Henderson, Fitz-Jim; Berghuis, Akpom, Forbs
Prediction
Despite Jagielloniaâs recent struggles, they remain a capable side capable of challenging Ajax, who are still finding their feet under Farioli. The Polish champions will be confident of securing a result against an Ajax side that has shown defensive vulnerability.
Given the defensive frailties of both teams, a score draw is a likely outcome, setting up a tense return leg in Amsterdam.
