FK Vojvodina coach Bozidar Bandovic is confidently looking forward to the two-legged tie with Ajax in the second preliminary round of the Europa League, as revealed in Tuesday's press conference. According to him, a stunt by the Serbian team is certainly a possibility so early in the European season.

“We have qualified for European football and are now preparing for a great team like Ajax,” Bandovic is quoted as saying at the press conference in the run-up to the match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday. Football International“Some people say we need a miracle, but it's still 11 against 11. We have to play a perfect game.”

The Vojvodina coach knows how his team can combat Ajax. “Our speed and intensity will have to be at a high level. Our game has improved and the atmosphere is excellent. That gives us the right to hope and believe, and I believe in miracles. It will be a difficult match, because Ajax is very strong both tactically and physically.”

Vojvodina opened the new season in Serbia last Sunday with a 1-3 victory over FK Tekstilac. Ajax's opponent has already started the competition, while the Amsterdammers have only played practice matches so far. According to Bandovic, however, that does not have to be to Ajax's disadvantage.

“Ajax won't mind that much,” predicts the 54-year-old coach. “We prepare for the opponent and are focused. But we will take it from match to match. If you analyze Ajax, you can't see that they haven't played a competitive match yet.”

“We have to be ready, because whoever shows that he is ready for this match, is ready for the future,” said the hopeful coach of Vojvodina. The Serbian club will play in Amsterdam on Thursday at 20:30. The return match will be on home ground a week later.

Profit and loss scenario

If Ajax manages to beat Serbian FK Vojvodina in the second preliminary round of the Europa League, the Amsterdam team will face Panathinaikos (Greece) or FK Botev Plovdiv (Bulgaria) next month.

Should Ajax lose the two-legged tie against Vojvodina, the club of coach Francesco Farioli will continue in the third preliminary round of the Conference League. The possible opponents in that scenario are also known.

In that case, Ajax will be linked to the winner of CFR Cluj – FC Neman Grodno, FK Zalgiris – Pafos, SC Dnipro-1 – Puskás Akadémia, AEK Athens – Inter Club d'Escaldes or NK Maribor – Universitatea Craiova.

The matches in the third preliminary rounds of the Europa League and Conference League will be played on Thursday 8 and 15 August. After that, Ajax may also have to play the play-offs of one of those two tournaments. These will take place on Thursday 22 and 29 August.

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