Legia Warsaw vs Ajax Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Ajax are the last of the Dutch big three who are still in Europe, which is a huge blow to the country. Will they be able to survive this trip to a side who were recently in the Champions League? They travel to face Legia Warsaw, who were taking on European champions Real Madrid just a few months ago. They recorded a big result to pip Sporting to third place and claim a spot in the Europa League. Will they be able to follow that up with a result against the Dutch giants?

The visitors are coming here with their Eredivisie title push on their mind, but they’re still looking to record a European run. Ajax are a side with great heritage in European competitions, so they can’t accept falling to a defeat to Legia Warsaw in the last 32. However, this has been a vintage year for the Polish side in continental competition, having faced some huge sides already. However, their Champions League campaign did see them lose 6-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund, which was then marred by serious crowd trouble.

There could be further problems for Legia here, as their Europa League record isn’t very impressive. They have won just one of their last six games in this competition, which saw them crash out of last season’s group stage in last place. They could carry those struggles in to their knockout match this week, as there are questions over how prepared the Polish side are. They’ve played one competitive game since mid-December. The hosts were slow starters in Europe earlier this campaign, drawing at home to Trencin and Dundalk before that Dortmund defeat.

That lack of match practice could see them record another defeat on Thursday night. They’ve won just 40% of their league games at the Pepsi Arena. Their opponents won four of their five Europa League matches to qualify for this round, before a 1-1 draw in their dead rubber final game. We’re expecting them to return to that form, the kind of form which saw them win 3-0 in their last visit here two years ago.

Ajax have also won 73% of their away league games, scoring 1.82 per trip and conceding just 0.55 in return. That impressive form should see them repeat their home and away victories in their last two legged affair with Legia. We’re backing an away win here, which is priced at 6/5 with bet365.