The Europa League qualifying rounds are heating up as FK Vojvodina prepares to host Ajax in the second leg of their clash.
After a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg, Ajax aims to secure their place in the next round. Here's an in-depth look at both teams' form, key news, and predictions for this crucial match.
Ajax's Dominance
Ajax enters this match with a significant advantage, having won the first leg 1-0.
Under the guidance of new manager Francesco Farioli, the team has shown remarkable resilience and tactical prowess.
With five consecutive wins in both competitive and non-competitive matches, Ajax is in excellent form.
Vojvodina's Challenge
Vojvodina faces an uphill battle, needing to overturn a one-goal deficit. Their recent form has been mixed, with a victory in their domestic league opener followed by a loss to Ajax.
To advance, Vojvodina must find a way to breach Ajax's sturdy defence and capitalize on their home advantage.
Form
Ajax's Recent Performance
Ajax has been in scintillating form, characterized by aggressive attacking play and solid defence.
In the first leg, Ajax dominated with eight shots on target in the first half alone, a record for them in European competition.
Despite this dominance, they only managed to score in the 86th minute, highlighting a potential issue with finishing that could be crucial in the second leg.
Vojvodina's European Struggles
Vojvodina's form in European competitions has been less impressive.
They are on a three-game losing streak in the Europa League qualifying rounds, with their last victory in the competition dating back to June 2017.
However, their domestic form offers some hope, as they recently secured a 3-1 win in the Serbian Super Liga.
News and Lineups
Ajax Team News
Ajax will be without several key players due to injuries.
Owen Wijndal, Gaston Avila, and Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen are all sidelined, while goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who made history as Ajax's oldest player in European competition, is expected to start again.
Branco van den Boomen, who scored the decisive goal in the first leg, is likely to feature prominently.
Vojvodina Team News
Vojvodina has their own injury concerns, with Djordje Crnomarkovic and Vukan Savicevic potentially unavailable.
Jonathan Bolingi, who has been out with a collapsed lung, remains sidelined. Mihailo Ivanovic and Aleksa Vukanovic will compete for a spot in the attack.
Prediction
Given Ajax's superior form and depth, they are favourites to win the second leg and advance.
A more clinical performance in front of goal could see them secure a comfortable victory.
Our Prediction: FK Vojvodina 0-2 Ajax (Ajax win 3-0 on aggregate)
