Ajax vs Roma Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 05/04/2021, 14:52  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 05/04/2021 at 14:55 in Europa League Predictions

Dutch giants Ajax are set to host Italians AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final clashes with the teams having posted mixed results from their weekend matches. Ajax are coming from a win over Heerenveen in the Eredivisie while AS Roma drew with Sassuolo in Serie A. The Dutch side’s victory extended their winning run to seven straight, having scored two or more goals in the seven matches, and they are unbeaten in their last 24 matches. A fine scoring run has seen 11 of Ajax’s last 15 matches produce over 2.5 goals and they’re unbeaten in their last 11 home matches, winning 10. Ajax finished third in Group D of the UEFA Champions League thus joining the Europa League and they’ve picked up well, winning all four matches they’ve played since. They’ve scored two or more goals in the four Europa League matches, in the last round beating Young Boys home and away 5-0 on aggregate. In their first ever meeting with Roma in the Europa League, they’ll be hoping to replicate the performance in the 2002/03 Champions League when they had a 3-2 aggregate win over the Italians. The Dutch are however set to experience trouble in their goalkeeping sector. First choice keeper Andre Onana is suspended for this game while Marteen Stekelenburg pulled out of the last game after a knee injury during warm up. Youngster Kjell Scherpen stepped up against Heerenveen, though he couldn’t keep a clean sheet.

Roma have troubles of their own and they aren’t injury related. After their stormy 2-2 draw with Sassuolo, it is reported that they had a dressing room bust up and they will hope to get to Amsterdam without unnecessary baggage. Among the baggage will be a poor run back at home that threatens to lock them out of any European competitions next year. Roma are currently placed seventh in the Serie A standings, five points below the Champions League slots. They have conceded twice in three of their last four matches and recently lost to a very weak, relegation threatened Parma and soon after failed to stage a good fight against Napoli, losing 2-0. In their last 13 away matches, Roma have lost six and won five. Europa league has offered them some reprieve; they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 on aggregate in the last round, making it eight wins in 10 Europa league matches. They’ve scored two or more in eight of the 10 Europa League games, resulting in over 2.5 goals in seven of the 10 and this is the form they’ll be hoping shows up on Thursday.