The Europa League match between Ajax vs Aston Villa will take place at Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday at 11:15 pm IST.
Aston Villa is back in Europa Conference League action, facing Ajax in the first leg of the last-16 tie. Villa advanced by winning Group E, while Ajax had a tense playoff against Bodo/Glimt to make it here. They’re both aiming to move forward in the tournament.
Unai Emery’s focus with Aston Villa may have shifted this season. They were once seen as potential Premier League title contenders but have fallen behind. However, they still have a shot at winning a European trophy and qualifying for the next Champions League. Villa recently won three Premier League games in a row, putting them five points ahead of Tottenham for fourth place. Before this match, Villa struggled to keep clean sheets, managing only one in seven games. In earlier Europa Conference League matches, they faced teams like Legia Warsaw and Zrinjski Mostar, as well as Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, whom they beat both home and away.
AZ’s higher position in the Eredivisie compared to Ajax could suggest they’re stronger, but Ajax’s unpredictability can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Despite a tough streak of games without clean sheets and limited wins, they surprised many by beating FC Utrecht 2-0. This win puts them back in contention for fourth place. In the Europa Conference League, Ajax had a thrilling playoff win against Bodo/Glimt, drawing 2-2 in the first leg but winning 2-1 in the return leg with a late goal in extra time.
Ajax probable starting lineup: Ramaj, Gooijer, Rensch, Kaplan, Hato, Sosa, Hlynsson, Henderson, Mannsverk, Taylor, Brobbey
Aston Villa probable starting lineup: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Tielemans, Diaby, Watkins
Ajax
| Opponents | Score |
|---|---|
| Utrecht | 2-0 (W) |
| AZ Alkmaar | 0-2 (L) |
| Bodo/Glimt | 2-1 (W) |
| Nijmegen | 2-2 (D) |
| Bodo/Glimt | 2-2 (D) |
Aston Villa
| Opponents | Score |
|---|---|
| Luton | 3-2 (W) |
| Nottingham | 4-2 (W) |
| Fulham | 2-1 (W) |
| Manchester United | 1-2 (L) |
| Chelsea | 1-3 (L) |
| Last match- Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Aston Villa beat Ajax | 2-1 |
The Europa League match between Ajax vs Aston Villa will take place at Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday at 11:15 pm IST.
| Ajax vs Aston Villa | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Date | March 7 |
| Venue | Johan Cruijff Arena |
| Kickoff time in Netherlands | 6:45 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in UK | 5:45 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 11:15 pm (Thursday) |
Football fans in Netherlands can catch the live action via Veronica TV while those in Portugal can watch the match live via discovery+ App, discovery+, TNT Sports 3.
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