Standard Liege vs Ajax: Preview and Prediction

Standard Liege vs Ajax
UEFA Europa League – Matchday 6
Date: Thursday, 8th December 2016,
Kick-Off at 20:05 UK
Venue: Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liege.

Standard Liege must look for a win against Ajax on matchday 6 to qualify to the knock-out stages of Europa League 2016/17.

The Group G of the Europa League is won by Ajax with a game in hand as they stay 7 points clear-off the second and third placed Standard Liege and Celta Vigo respectively. While Panathinaikos are bottom of the group with 1 point and are already eliminated.

Celta and Standard have drawn in two fixtures between them by the 1-1 score-line and therefore goal-difference will be taken into account to separate them. At the moment the Belgians are ahead with a +2 goal difference as against Celta’s +1. Therefore, Standard Liege can qualify if both the group matches end in a draw.

Standard Liege vs Ajax: Head-to-head stats

Ajax defeated Standard Liege by a solitary goal when the teams met on matchday 2 of the competition this season. This is the lone meeting between the two sides in a UEFA tournament.

Standard Liege has a poor record against teams from Dutch Eredivisie. They managed only 1 win from 7 encounters, while they drew 2 and lost 4. The record at home is 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss from three matches.

Ajax have a good record against teams from Belgium after winning in 9 of the 15 meetings so far, while they drew 2 and lost 4. Their record while playing in Belgium from 7 matches is 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Standard Liege vs Ajax: Prediction

Standard Liege are unbeaten at home in the group stage matches this season, but both are draws. Ajax is a far superior opponent than Celta Vigo and Panathinaikos. Since the Dutch side has already secured the top spot in the group, it is very likely that they come here without their key players. This could play straight into the hands of the hosts who are desperate for a win with a healthy margin.