Ajax will look to book their place in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday when they host Austrian side Rapid Vienna in the second leg of their third round qualifying tie. The score is 2-2 from the first leg.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
Ajax should have already booked their place in the next round after the first leg, in which they led 2-0 at half time before surrendering their lead to Rapid Vienna, who were reduced to 10 men halfway through the second half.
However coach Frank de Boer will have seen a lot of positives from his side’s first half performance which saw them carve Rapid Vienna apart again and again, with only poor finishing preventing them from going into the break four or five goals up. The second half collapse has made the second leg a lot tenser for Ajax than they would have liked, but two away goals puts them in a commanding position.
De Boer is unlikely to make major changes to his line-up from the first leg, with Mike van der Hoorn still suspended, while Lucas Andersen and Thulani Serero are not included in the squad. Danish winger Viktor Fischer could start, but is still not totally match fit according to De Boer in his pre-match press conference.
Probable Ajax line-up: Cillessen, Tete, Dijks, Riedewald, Veltman, Bazoer, Gudelj, Klaassen, Sinkgraven, El Ghazi, Milik
Rapid Vienna were back in league action after the tie last week, and they shocked champions Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 on Saturday with Stefan Schwab, who was sent off against Ajax, scoring the crucial second goal. The midfielder will miss the second leg through suspension.
Probable Rapid Vienna line-up: Novota, Auer, Stangl, Sonnleitner, Hofmann, Petsos, Hofmann,Grahovac, Kainz, Schobesberger, Beric
Its crucial for the European coefficient of the Eredivisie that Ajax get through this round and at least book themselves a Europa league place, and on paper they should definitely be too strong for Rapid Vienna. As long as the defence doesn’t make costly errors like they did in Austria last week, and the attack of Klaassen, Sinkgraven, El Ghazi, and Milik continues to link up well, then Ajax should be in the pot for Friday’s play-off draw.
Predicted score: Ajax 2-0 Rapid Vienna
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
