The Europa League group stage continues on Thursday with Ajax looking to book their place in the knockout stage, Feyenoord seeking a win in Ukraine and AZ aiming to keep themselves in the competition.

ziyech-celtAjax v Celta Vigo (20.05pm)

Ajax could seal their place in the knockout stage of the competition if they beat Celta Vigo in Amsterdam on Thursday, and Panathinaikos draw with Standard Liege in the group’s other tie.

Peter Bosz’s side have been excellent in the competition so far and matched Celta Vigo when the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in Spain two weeks ago. The Spanish side fielded a weakened side that night and the Ajax boss admitted he doesn’t know which team they will come up against on Thursday, “I’m not sure what to expect. Celta changes the team almost every game, both in the league and in Europe. We just go on our own strength.”

Bosz will be without the injured Nick Viergever for the tie while Anwar El Ghazi was demoted to the reserves. Daley Sinkgraven has returned from injury but will likely start on the bench.

Possible Ajax line-up: Onana, Veltman, Dijks, Riedewald, Sanchez, Schone, Klaassen, Ziyech, Younes, Traore, Dolberg

Odds: Ajax 19/20, Draw 13/5, Celta Vigo 10/3

Zorya v Feyenoord (18.00pm)

Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord can take a big step towards the knockout stage if they can record a victory over Zorya in Ukraine. The Rotterdam club currently sit top of Group A, level on points with second placed Manchester United and two ahead of Fenerbahce. A win in Ukraine would put them within touching distance of the next round with two games left.

Two weeks ago in Rotterdam, Feyenoord recorded a 1-0 win over Zorya, but Giovanni van Bronckhorst travels without the injured Karim El Ahmadi and Tonny Vilhena, who is mourning the death of his mother.

Possible Feyenoord line-up: Jones, Karsdorp, Kongolo, Botteghin, Van der Heijden, Vejinovic, Tapia, Kuyt, Basacikoglu, Toornstra, Jorgensen

Odds: Zorya 21/10 Draw 12/5 Feyenoord 29/20

Maccabi Tel Aviv v AZ Alkmaar (18.00pm)

AZ Alkmaar desperately need to record a victory in Israel on Thursday if they are to keep their chances of qualifying for the next round alive.

John van den Brom’s side go into the game bottom of the group with only one point from their opening three games. Another defeat against Maccabi Tel Aviv, who recorded a 2-1 win in Alkmaar two weeks ago, would all but seal AZ’s exit from the competition.

Van den Brom told the press that they will do everything to win in Israel, “We have to win because the result of two weeks ago. If we want to achieve something, and that we want, then we have to win.”

AZ go into the game on the back of two victories and can welcome back both Ron Vlaar and Ridgeciano Haps from injury. Alireza Jahanbakhsh will once again be missing due to political reasons.

Possible AZ line-up: Rochet, Johansson, Haps, Vlaar, Wuytens, Luckassen, Rienstra, van Overeem, Dos Santos, Bel Hassani, Weghorst

Odds: Maccabi Tel Aviv 5/6 Draw 14/5 AZ 18/5




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