Best Odds: 2/3
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In what could prove to be an enjoyable Europa League qualifying battle on Thursday night, Ajax will travel to the Olympic Stadium when they meet Panathinaikos.
Panathinaikos
Starting with the hosts, while Panathinaikos might have breezed their way to another European finish last season, some in Diego Alonso’s camp would have been disappointed by a missed opportunity. Nevertheless, despite signing off the 2023/24 campaign by collecting just a single point from any of their final four Super League appearances, the Greens should take plenty of positives away from an eye-catching summer flurry. Crowned Greek Cup champions for a 20th time back on May 25th as they secured a 1-0 win against Aris, the former Sevilla boss also saw his squad lay down a routine Europa League marker last week. Extending on their European adventure thanks to a 4-1 aggregate romp against Bulgarian outfit Botev Plovdiv, Panathinaikos will know the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage on Thursday night.
Team News
Arriving from Galatasaray this summer, former Leicester loanee Tete should make a full Panathinaikos debut on Thursday night. Making his move to the Olympic Stadium a permanent switch last month, Polish goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski will start between the sticks.
Notching a trio of goals in his back-to-back appearances against Botev Plovdiv over the past fortnight, Swedish marksmen Alexander Jeremejeff will play a leading role in the final third. Likewise, finding the net in Bulgaria last week, one-time Benfica star Filip Djuricic will join Jeremejeff in attack.
As for the visitors, while Ajax might have eventually dragged themselves to a crucial European finish last season, the Dutch giants found themselves at the heart of what was a public crisis behind the scenes in Amsterdam. Officially appointing Francesco Farioli back in May, the four-time European champions are desperate to find some much-needed stability. However, although Thursday’s guests might have gained a reputation for their glaring defensive issues, Ajax will be excited by what has become quite the summer flurry. Extending on their Europa League qualifying adventure thanks to a routine 4-1 aggregate win against Serbian outfit Vojvodina, the former Nice boss should find the mood in his camp at a real high. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 win against Olympiacos, Farioli’s side have won all of their previous six appearances across all formats.
Team News
Despite missing England’s squad for this summer’s European Championships, former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson will lead out Ajax here. Still dealing with a long-term knee injury, 19-year-old Olivier Aertssen remains on the sidelines and will not travel to Greece.
Coming off the bench and finding the net in his Ajax debut against Vojvodina last week, former Aston Villa star Bertrand Traore should be handed a first start at the Olympics Stadium. Notching 11 Eredivisie strikes last season, one-time Arsenal starlet Chuba Akpom should keep his spot leading Farioli’s attack.
Key Factors to Consider
