Brighton-Ajax is a match from the third day of the Europa League group stage and is played Thursday at 9 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Not a positive record so far for Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton in their first continental adventure. The Seagulls in the Europa League so far have limped along and after two days find themselves in last place in the so-called “iron group” in which Aek Athens, Marseille and Ajax were also drawn. Of one defeat and one draw is the haul of the team coached by the former Sassuolo coach, also declining in the Premier League.
And qualification, despite still having four matches to play, is at risk. In the first game, Brighton were surprised by the Greeks of Aek, who got the better of them 3-2 at the Amex Stadium. But things had also gone badly wrong in Marseille, as Gattuso’s team had taken a two-goal lead in the first half.De Zerbi avoided a second cup defeat thanks to the reaction of his men in the second half, who were able to bring the result back to a draw first by shortening the gap with Gross and then with a penalty converted by Joao Pedro two minutes from the end. Brighton has not rejoiced in a victory for exactly a month now: two defeats (Aston Villa, Manchester City) and a draw (Liverpool) in the last three league games. In the dock is a defense that has not been unbeaten since the season began and has conceded a total of 12 goals in the last four matches.
Ajax is in a black crisis
An endless crisis instead for Ajax, which is even second-to-last in the Eredivisie after seven rounds: an embarrassing situation for a club as emblazoned as Amsterdam’s.
Bergwijn exults with teammates
At the weekend the Lancers had to deal with yet another defeat of the season, losing 4-3 at home to Utrecht. The club decided to relieve coach Maurice Steijn of his duties, replacing him (for now) with interim coach Hedwiges Maduro. Ajax has not won a match since last August, when they got the better of Ludogorets in the Europa League preliminary. In the cup, the red and white at least avoided defeat against Marseille and Aek, two matches that ended in draws (3-3 and 1-1).
The Prediction
This seems to be the game to return to victory for an under-performing Brighton, which is probably suffering from the weekly double commitment. Seagulls favored over a disastrous Ajax in a match that should ensure a lot of goals, considering both sides’ problems in non-possession: total ones could be at least four.
The probable lineups of Brighton-Ajax
- BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Igor, Webster; Gilmour, Gross; Adingra, Ansu Fati, Mitoma; Ferguson.
- AJAX (4-3-3): Gorter; Gaaei, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Taylor, Tahirovic, Vos; Forbs, Brobbey, Bergwijn.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-2
