Ajax vs Union Berlin Predictions

• Both teams have scored in seven of Union Berlin’s last eight matches in all competitions.
• Ajax’s six Champions League group-stage matches averaged 4.5 total goals per game.
• Both teams are unbeaten in all games since the end of the World Cup.

Can the new kids on the block make their mark?

This is the tenth time that Ajax have featured in the knockout phase of the Europa League and with a perfect winning record since the appointment of Johnny Heitinga as manager, the Amsterdam outfit will be hoping to extend their winning run to five games.

Standing in their way are Union Berlin, the Bundesliga side that have enjoyed a meteoric rise to the continental stage across the past few seasons, culminating in this first ever European knockout phase match for the club.

Much like their hosts, Union are unbeaten in all of their games since the World Cup break, but they can boast an even longer current winning run (W6), in an arguably tougher league than the Eredivisie.

Going for goals

Don’t let Union’s lack of continental experience put you off their chances of at least getting on the scoresheet here, they come into this on the back of an away win to regular Champions League contenders Leipzig and will be fired up to go again.

Ajax do have an impressive record against German opponents though (W23, D7, L8) and should not be underestimated in front of a buzzing Amsterdam Arena crowd. Whichever way this one goes, it will surely be tight – all of Union’s group stage games ended 1-0 whilst four of their last five victories finished up 2-1.