The round of the last 16 in the Europa League will take place on the next two Thursdays. Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys will face each other in the Johann Cruijff Arena from 18:55. According to the odds, the home side are the clear favourites to lay the foundations for progress at home. Especially in their own stadium, the advantages suggested by the best bookmakers are likely to come into play.
However, Erik ten Hag’s team will not be able to take the task for granted, as the Swiss champions already managed to surprise Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, winning both the first and second legs. Their Dutch counterparts were convincing with two wins against current Ligue 1 table leaders OSC Lille.
What should also be taken into account for the prediction between Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys is the fact that the visitors from Bern have never won a European Cup away match in the Netherlands. Coupled with the presumably higher individual quality and the greater experience on the international stage, the AFT odds comparison shows significantly lower quotes for the home win (see below).
Prediction & Live Odds for Ajax vs Young Boys 11/03/2021
Although the Swiss champions should not be underestimated, especially after their good performance against Leverkusen, there has not been much to gain for the yellow and black in the recent past, especially away from home on the international stage. Only three wins in the last 26 away games in Europe are a disappointing figure.
We, therefore, believe in a commanding victory for the more experienced and better quality hosts and try to bet on a double result between Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys. For the Ajax win (-1.5 AH) ✅ we get attractive prices of over 2.50 at the recommended bookmakers below.
Ajax Amsterdam – Statistics & current form
It wouldn’t have taken much for us to continue reporting on Ajax Amsterdam in our Champions League tips this spring. If the Dutch champions had won against Atalanta Bergamo on the last matchday of the group stage, they would have made it into the last 16 of the top flight. As it is, the Godenzonen have to be content with the “second-class” Europa League. This is the ninth time that the 2017 finalists have reached the knockout stage of this competition – a record!
The journey, which began with two 2-1 victories over OSC Lille in the past two weeks, is far from over either. Ahead of the round of 16 first leg between Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys, even a prediction on the overall victory of Erik ten Hag’s team does not seem completely out of the air. At the tested bookmaker Bet365, only four other clubs are given better chances of winning the title than the White and Reds.
Ajax without a home defeat in the Europa League since 2014
The fact that Amsterdam Football Club Ajax will undoubtedly be favourites on Thursday night is moreover due to their impressive home record at European level. In the knockout phase, Ajax have now won eight home matches in a row. In the Europa League, including the group stage, there have been nine successive victories at home and 14 unbeaten games in a row (eleven wins, three draws). The last home defeat came against RB Salzburg in the round of 32 in 2013/2014.
Their general form is also impressive, with the “sons of God” winning 12 of their last 13 competitive matches. On ten occasions Dusan Tadic, who has 20 goals in 28 European Cups for Ajax, and his colleagues were already ahead at the break.
Although the Dutch have only made it past the last 16 in the Europa League once in four attempts so far, there is a lot to be said for betting on a commanding home win in Thursday’s first leg between Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys. With the exception of Sebastian Haller, who did not report for the winter, all the players will be on board. Only the injured Mazraoui and Blind are question marks.
Expected line-up of Ajax Amsterdam:
Stekelenburg; Rensch, Timber, Martinez, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Gravenberch; Neres, Klaassen, Antony; Tadic
Young Boys – Statistics & current form
For the first time ever in the club’s history, the Young Boys from Bern have reached the last 16 of the Europa League. The last time the Swiss club achieved similar success was in the 1987/88 season, when they were eliminated by Ajax Amsterdam in the last eight of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. History could repeat itself on the next two Thursdays.
However, Gerardo Seoane’s team will not be defeated without a fight, especially since the yellow and black team impressively proved in the previous round against Bayer Leverkusen (4:3, 2:0) that they should not be underestimated.
YBB have scored at least once in all eight of their Europa League matches so far in 2020/21. In total, they have scored almost two goals of their own per match, which makes the odds on excess goals for the first leg between Ajax Amsterdam and Young Boys even more interesting. At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the Swiss champions have already conceded ten goals and looked completely indisposed in defence, especially in the second half of the home match against the German side.
YBB in Europe with serious away problems
In purely statistical terms, the Bernese, who failed to qualify for the Champions League against Danish representative Midtjylland in the summer, have won only three of their last 26 away games on the European stage. Their overall record in the Europa League is also clearly negative, with four wins, eight draws and twelve defeats away from home.
In addition, coach Seoane will have to do without his starting number one David von Ballmoos on Thursday, who suffered a concussion in the disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Super League last-place Vaduz at the weekend. It was also the third successive draw at national level, which raises a few question marks about the team’s form.
Predicted Young Boys line-up:
Faivre; Hefti, Lustenberger, Zesiger, Lefort; Fassnacht, Lauper, Aebischer, Ngamaleu; Siebatcheu, Elia