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- Brighton & Hove Albion FC vs AFC Ajax, UEFA Europa League
- October 26, 2023
- 3 PM EST
- American Express Stadium, Brighton and Hove, UK
- Paramount+
AFC Ajax is set to visit the South Coast of England in this Brighton Europa League showdown. Brighton & Hove Albion FC had been on a tear across all competitions, but have seemed to have hit a snag in recent games. Meanwhile, Ajax have looked nothing like their former selves, a club seen as a virtual lock to win the Eredivisie year after year. These sides must put their woes aside if they want to bring European success home.
Continue reading to access betting odds, season breakdowns, and stats on Brighton and Ajax fixtures and results.
Ajax and Brighton Europa League Betting Odds
AFC Ajax’s struggles to begin their 2023-24 campaign are most likely to blame for their long odds in this match. Ajax Amsterdam’s 7-game streak without a victory has given them a price tag of (+590) on highly-rated online sportsbook MyBookie. That makes Brighton & Hove Albion considerable favorites to secure all 3 points at (-259). A draw would cash out bettors at (+440), which has been the final result of 3 out of 4 Europa League games played by both squads so far.
| Europa League |  |  |  |
| Brighton | -260 | -259 | -259 |
| Ajax | +575 | +590 | +590 |
| Draw | +440 | +420 | +420 |
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Ajax and Brighton Europa League Group B Breakdown
Group B of this year’s Europa League, headlined by Brighton, was expected to be a close, competitive battle for the second qualification spot between Marseille and Ajax. And with 4 games yet to be played, it is quite possible this still holds true. However, AEK Athens stole a road victory at the Amex, stirring things up in the group. Athens was not considered to be in the running for qualification, let alone win a match against top-seeded Brighton. Now, Marseille and Ajax find themselves with a new adversary to compete for valuable points.
Brighton also faltered with a draw against Marseille on the road. They now have only 1 point to show for their efforts as the first round of fixtures in the Europa League comes to a close. A win against Ajax is now more urgent than previously expected. Failure to secure all 3 points will introduce some anxiety amongst players, supporters, and manager Roberto de Zerbi alike.
Meanwhile, Ajax fought out a 3-3 draw in a high-octane battle with Marseille at home to begin their European campaign. Then, the club split the spoils with AEK Athens to remain unbeaten. Now they face their toughest competition yet, on the road, with their club in utter disarray. A draw would be considered a victory for the Dutch in this spot.
AFC Ajax Fixtures and Results
As alluded to previously, Ajax’s poor results have bubbled up to a boiling point. After the visiting side Feyenoord jumped to an early 3-0 lead at Ajax’s home stadium, supporters let their frustrations known in the form of flares spiraling onto the pitch. After 2 attempts to continue were halted, officials suspended the match. Four days later, the teams continued behind closed doors, which only added insult to injury as Feyenoord put up another to complete a 4-goal rout.
Just prior to the resumption of the match, Ajax chairman Pier Eringa stepped down after an onslaught of fan criticism, followed by director of soccer Sven Mislintat. The club now sits in the relegation zone after their worst start to a season since the mid-1960s. In an attempt to return to former winning ways, Manager Maurice Steijn is being watched by the eye of former manager Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal most recently served as the Manchester United boss before taking on this advisory role, where he hopes to help string together some victories and bring Ajax back to the glory it once held when he coached the club to a 1995 Champions League trophy.
While pinpointing a precise cause for Ajax’s struggles is difficult and unfair, perhaps the departure of Ghanaian star midfielder Mohammed Kudus is to blame. Kudus was sold in early August after holding a significant role in the midfield as an attacking presence, and bid farewell to Amsterdam after recording a hat trick in his final cap. In fact, Ajax have failed to win a game since his heroic performance in the Europa League playoffs. An improbable victory against Albion could help calm frantic supporters.
Ajax and Brighton Europa League Prediction and Free Betting Pick
It appears Ajax have more pressing domestic troubles to deal with currently than their European hopes. European trophies are a luxury only the best clubs in the world can afford, and it doesn’t seem that Ajax is still one of those clubs. They have fallen mightily this season and a trip to England may become more of a nuisance for a reeling locker room than anything.
Brighton are hungry for victory and should see Ajax as ripe for the picking. Expect the Seagulls to win this match by at least two goals. By staking on such a circumstance, we can improve our odds to (+102).
Odds are accurate at the time of writing, but subject to change.
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