Aston Villa return to UEFA Europa Conference League action on Thursday to take on Ajax in Amsterdam for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.
Aston Villa will face Ajax in the UEFA Europa Conference League’s Last 16 stage in arguably the standout tie in Europe’s third-tier competition’s knockout rounds. Villa are flying high in the Premier League and on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while Dutch giants Ajax boast years of European class.
Unai Emery’s side have carried on from where they left off last season and surpassed all expectations following their seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last time out, despite the Spaniard taking over a club that was 16th and appearing to be on the verge of relegation.
Three wins in a row have seen the West Midlands side consolidate their place in the Premier League’s top four, where they sit with a five-point cushion ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham. After progressing through the group stage seamlessly, the Villans could have done with an easier Last 16 tie. Having said that, Ajax are nowhere near the force they previously were.
While they have recovered after finding themselves at the bottom end of the division and dumped out of the UEFA Europa League not so long ago, they are still only fifth in Eredivisie following their 2-0 victory over Utrecht over the weekend, 27 points behind leaders PSV. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Ajax
With Anton Gaaei out injured, Van’t Schip could persist with the unusual defensive 5-4-1 shape that proved effective against FC Utrecht over the weekend. Ahmetcan Kaplan made his first Eredivisie start of the season at the heart of the back-three against Utercht.
He could keep his place alongside Devyne Rensch and Jorrel Hato. The trio will protect the in-demand Diant Ramaj, whose exploits are attracting interest from the Premier League.
Jordan Henderson returned to midfield after not featuring since February 18 in that game. But more attack-minded players like Carlos Forbs and Chuba Akpom had to make do with substitute appearances. With Steven Bergwijn sidelined through injury and Josip Sutalo serving a ban, Brian Brobbey will lead the line for Ajax against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Ramaj; Gooijer, Rensch, Kaplan, Hato, Sosa; Hlynsson, Henderson, Mannsverk, Taylor; Brobbey
Aston Villa
The hosts are guaranteed to be without the services of as many as five injured players: Boubacar Kamara (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Emiliano Buendia (knee), Jhon Duran (hamstring), and Diego Carlos (thigh).
Emiliano Martinez will start in goal. Matty Cash will be looking over his shoulder with Ezri Konsa back in the matchday squad. For now, though, the Poland international will probably keep his place, whereas Lucas Digne could come in for a start on the opposite flank, as Alex Moreno has been rather inconsistent of late.
Pau Torres returned to the matchday squad on Saturday but did not play. That benching was probably with Thursday’s clash in mind. He should start this one alongside Konsa, with Clement Lenglet set to be benched.
John McGinn is filling in the deep-lying midfield role in Kamara’s absence, with Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans, and Leon Bailey all featuring in the midfield quartet. With Jacob Ramsey picking up an injury against Luton Town, Moussa Diaby could be reinstated to the Villa starting lineup in close proximity to Ollie Watkins.
With 26 direct contributions under his belt in the Premier League already this season, the England Euro 2024 hopeful is primed to spearhead the Aston Villa attack against Ajax on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno; Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Tielemans; Diaby; Watkins
Key Stats
- Aston Villa have netted at least one goal for seven consecutive games.
- The Villains are riding on a three-game winning streak.
- Ajax have won just two of their last seven competitive games (L2).
- Ajax have lost their last five home games against English opposition, failing to score in each of the last four.
- Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six away games in European competition (W4).
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
The English striker bagged his 20th and 21st goals of the season against Luton Town on Saturday. Of all Premier League players, only Erling Haaland has scored more this season. He has transformed himself into a multifaceted offensive weapon for the Villains.
While his speed and runs behind the defence remain key assets, his repertoire to bring other attackers into play has stood out this season. The freedom Watkins enjoys to roam, which allows him to exploit space in transition, could pose real problems for a shaky Ajax backline.
Prediction
Ajax 1-2 Aston Villa
Ajax are heavyweights in the global game, yet Aston Villa will enter the contest as favourites among many given their form in the Premier League. In fact, Villa are the favourites to win the competition, helped by manager Unai Emery, who has won the UEFA Europa League three times previously with Sevilla.
It would be unwise to write off the Dutch heavyweights at first glance. Over two legs, though, with the second to be played on home soil, this is a tie Villa will enter full of confidence, and could come away with a narrow first-leg advantage here.
