Tonight (9 p.m.) Ajax has something to make up for against AS Roma. The team from Amsterdam must win with two goals difference to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. The team of trainer Erik ten Hag therefore faces a very tough task, but not an impossible one. Ajax has hope in the double confrontation with Real Madrid in the 2018/19 season, when a 1-2 defeat was reversed by a 1-4 victory. However, one season is not the other. Yet Ajax is looking forward to the meeting in the Stadio Olimpico with confidence.
Ajax was strong at home last week, but looked vulnerable from a defensive point of view. AS Roma turned up dangerously in front of Kjell Scherpen’s goal a number of times. It was Davy Klaassen who opened the score. Shortly after the break, Dusan Tadic had the perfect opportunity to double the lead, but he failed from eleven meters. Not long after, Scherpen made a painful mistake on a free kick by Lorenzo Pellegrini, after which Roger Ibañez made the winning name on behalf of the Romans just before time. Ajax thus suffered an unnecessary defeat, also in view of the number of opportunities that the Ten Hag team left unused. If the Eredivisie leader wants to have a chance for a place in the last four in the Europa League tonight, it will have to deal better with the opportunities it gets.
When Ajax is unable to qualify for the semi-finals of the Europa League tonight, it could just be that Ten Hag is on the bench for the last time with the team from Amsterdam in a European context. The trainer did not want to speculate about a possible departure the day before the match. “I will be under contract for another year, but that is formal,” said Ten Hag. “But I am having a great time at Ajax. We are not only working to put Ajax on the map in Europe, but also to participate with the best and I would like to contribute to that. ” The trainer wants to finish the season by winning prizes. “And then continue to build on Ajax. So I don’t think that even if we are eliminated by AS Roma, it will have been my last European match at Ajax. ”
AS Roma coach Paulo Fonseca is looking forward to the return in the Stadio Olimpico with confidence. The Portuguese coach put the pressure on his players: “We all know that this might be the most important game of the season. It is important to realize that we are facing a very strong team. We can no longer think about the match in Amsterdam. I want to see a team that fights as if there has never been another game or is still being played, ”he said during the press conference on Wednesday. “We have to defend well. We will have to, because they are attacking strong ”, the trainer continued, who emphasized that there is no room for mistakes. “We have to be focused and mentally balanced. In Amsterdam we had a hard time in the phase after they scored, but we stayed in balance and made the turnaround later in the game. ”
Injuries and suspensions
Devyne Rensch is missing from Ajax due to a suspension. The right back ran into a yellow card last week and is therefore unable to take action. Noussair Mazraoui, another right-back in the Ajax squad, is on his way back after having been sidelined with a vision problem for the past few months. The duel with Roma comes too early for him, but Ten Hag has expressed the expectation that Mazraoui will be in the match selection for the cup final against Vitesse next Sunday. The question is whether Zakaria Labyad can also be used. He is struggling with an ankle injury and is on the way back, according to the Algemeen Dagblad.
Maarten Stekelenburg was missing in the home game against AS Roma due to a knee injury. The routine is fit again. He traveled to Rome and can play tonight against the club where he was under contract between 2011 and 2013. Perr Schuurs and Brian Brobbey are also available. The pair were unsure for the duel with Roma, but are fit in time to take action. The long-injured Daley Blind is not there, while André Onana and Sébastien Haller are missing for the well-known reasons.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan returns to the match selection at AS Roma. The attacking midfielder was missing in Amsterdam due to an injury. He made his comeback against Bologna last weekend (1-0 win). According to Italian media, a basic place seems like a serious option. Stephan El Shaarawy is again not there, while Leonardo Spinazzola is not yet fit. The latter was injured in the first half against Ajax last week. Marash Kumbulla Nicolò Zaniolo are also offside due to injuries.
Suspected lineups
The big question is how Rensch’s suspension will be handled. It Algemeen Dagblad expects Jurriën Timber to be set up as right back, which will free up a spot in the center. The newspaper has put the name of Perr Schuurs as partner of Lisandro Martínez at the center of the rearguard. That way Edson Álvarez stays in midfield, along with Ryan Gravenberch and Davy Klaassen. It AD expects Dusan Tadic to play again from striker position, with Brazilian wingers Antony and David Neres on the flanks.
As usual, Ten Hag said nothing about his position at the press conference on Wednesday. He did, however, hint that a base place for Schuurs may come too soon. The man-driver has been injured on the side in recent weeks. “Everyone who is along is fit to play. But Schuurs has been out for a while, so I will have a look at the training to see how fit he is,” said Ten Hag during the press moment. The trainer put various options on the table. regarding the right back position. “We have Sean Klaiber, we can slide with Jurriën Timber, but we also brought Quinten Timber who can also play there.”
The possible position of Ajax according to De Telegraaf.
According to The Telegraph it would be obvious that Ten Hag keeps his rearguard intact and Klaiber starts as a right back. “But the back from FC Utrecht is unable to keep up with the high level of his teammates. So Timber can possibly play right back, Álvarez assists in the back of Martínez and there is a place in midfield for possibly Mohammed Kudus ”, the newspaper speculates on Thursday. The preview also refers to the dip in form of Neres and Antony. Because Ajax has to score twice, the newspaper would find it explainable if Brian Brobbey starts in the striker, Tadic from the left and one of the two Brazilians on the right flank.
Line-up Ajax according to the AD: Stekelenburg; J. Timber, Schuurs, Martinez, Tagliafico; Álvarez, Klaassen, Gravenberch; Antony, Tadic, Neres
Ajax line-up according to De Telegraaf (speculation): Stekelenburg; J. Timber, Alvarez, Martinez, Tagliafico; Klaassen, Kudus, Gravenberch; Antony / Neres, Brobbey, Tadic
Probable position of AS Roma: Pau Lopez; Mancini, Cristante, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Veretout, Diawara, Calafiori; Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan; Dzeko