Ajax will play a crucial away match against Olympique Marseille on Thursday evening. The Europa League match starts at 9:00 PM at the Stade Vélodrome. John van ‘t Schip faces some difficult choices. The question is whether Brian Brobbey will return to the starting line-up after injuries and will he dare to field the young Ar’Jany Martha again?
It is certain that Diant Ramaj will defend the Amsterdam goal in Marseille. Van ‘t Schip is complimentary about the German closing post, who seems to remain the first choice at least until the winter break.
‘I only see Ajax getting better, they can win the Conference League’
Voetbalzone looks ahead in detail to Ajax’s crucial Europa League match against Olympique Marseille.
Van ‘t Schip has to make do without Josip Sutalo against Marseille, so Devyne Rensch, just like last Saturday against Vitesse (5-0 win), forms the heart of the Amsterdam defense with Jorrel Hato. Anton Gaaei starts at right back, while Ar’Jany Martha will most likely be trusted again as left back.
The converted left back initially had little prospect of playing minutes in the main squad, but that has completely changed since the arrival of John van ‘t Schip. In Ajax’s last five matches, Martha started three times and all these matches were won. Martha kept the more experienced Borna Sosa on the bench against Vitesse.
In midfield, Ajax’s coach has fewer flavors to choose from. Sivert Mannsverk, Silvano Vos and Branco van den Boomen are missing due to injuries. Benjamin Tahirovic is the logical number 6 on Thursday evening, while Kenneth Taylor and Kristian Hlynsson complete the midfield.
Steven Berghuis and Steven Bergwijn are assured of a place on the wings in attack, but it remains to be seen whether Brian Brobbey will start. The striker was missing against Vitesse last weekend due to an injury, but is now fit enough to play in France.
Van ‘t Schip is also satisfied with his replacement Chuba Akpom, who was accurate against Vitesse and was also accurate four times as a substitute in the three Eredivisie matches before that. Brobbey, if fit, is still higher in the pecking order, which makes a starting place for him at the Stade Vélodrome more logical.
Presumed Ajax line-up: Ramaj; Gaeei, Rensch, Hato, Martha; Tahirovic, Taylor, Hlynsson; Berghuis, Brobbey, Bergwijn.
Possible line-up Marseille: Lopez; Clauss, Mbemba, Gigot, Lodi; Veretout, Kondogbia; Ndiaye, Harit, Sarr; Aubameyang.