Mohammed Kudus kicks off at Ajax; Van den Boomen bench seat


Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 6:45 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 18:50

Ajax’s line-up for the duel with Ludogorets is known. Trainer Maurice Steijn has a starting place for Steven Berghuis and Owen Wijndal. Mohammed Kudus is approaching a transfer to West Ham United, but is nevertheless in the starting line-up. At the back right, Devyne Rensch is preferred to acquisition Anton Gaaei, while Kenneth Taylor is preferred to Branco van den Boomen. The game starts at 8 p.m. Dutch time and can be seen on RTL 7 and Ziggo Sports Select.

Jay Gorter is under the bar with the team from Amsterdam. The defense is formed by Rensch, Jakov Medic, Jorrel Hato and Wijndal. The controllers in midfield are Taylor and Benjamin Tahirovic, while Berghuis takes the 10th position. Kudus (right) and Steven Bergwijn (left) are the flank players who have to serve striker Brian Brobbey.

Ludogorets have dominated the Bulgarian Parva Liga for more than a decade, but coach Ivaylo Petev’s side have started the competition badly this season. The club from Razgrad is only eighth. Petev cannot rely on the injured Denny Gropper and Anton Nedyalkov against Ajax. Kiril Despodov is present. The attacker became Bulgarian footballer of the year in the past two years and wants to take a step higher, but is currently a Ludogorets player. Sergio Padt is also present, but the former goalkeeper of FC Groningen, among others, has had to sit on the bench for the last few games in favor of the Croat Simon Sluga.

Ajax suffered a downer at Excelsior (2-2) last weekend, although the fans were delighted after that match with the long-awaited arrival of Josip Sutalo. The Croatian center defender has traveled to Bulgaria, but is not yet eligible to play because he already played in the preliminary round of a European tournament with Dinamo Zagreb this season. Chuba Akpom and Gaston Ávila are also not available yet. Gaaei is present, although Steijn already announced on Wednesday that he would not start in the base. Berghuis makes his first official minutes of the season. The right winger annex midfielder is still suspended in the Eredivisie, but can still represent Ajax in Europe.

Line-up Ludogorets: nb

Setup Ajax: Gorter; Rensch, Medic, Hato, Wijndal; Taylor, Berghuis, Tahirovic; Kudus, Brobbey, Bergwijn.