Ajax vs Panathinaikos Predictions

• Ajax are unbeaten in 13 competitive matches at the Johan Cruyff Arena
• Panathinaikos have won just three of their nine games in the Europa League since the start of last season
• Ajax won the first meeting 1-0 in Greece thanks to a goal from Steven Berghuis

Home advantage should help Ajax’s cause

After their disappointing effort in the Eredivisie last season, Ajax have come out firing in their first four matches of the new campaign.

Former Nice boss Francesco Farioli guided them to a 4-1 aggregate win over Vojvodina in the previous round of qualifying, while Ajax secured a 1-0 victory over their Greek opponents last week before following that up with a 1-0 success over Heerenveen on Sunday.

Panathinaikos finished fourth in last season’s Greek Super League playoffs, and they could only pick up four points from six games in the group stages of the Europa League.

The Greek outfit ended last season with back-to-back defeats on the road, and they should come up short again.

Farioli’s side can keep it tight

Farioli is still working on his team’s tactics, but they have looked defensively sound this season so far.

In their four competitive matches, Ajax have kept three clean sheets, including last week’s success in Greece.

Despite having home advantage last week, Panathinaikos only registered four shots on target in 90 minutes, so Ajax will expect to pick up another clean sheet if they can produce a similar display.