Ajax vs Besiktas Prediction: Immobile to make serious movements in Amsterdam

A strong end to one of Ajax's worst seasons in their history saw de Godenzonen finish fifth and avoid the Uefa Conference League play-offs, with the Dutch giants instead heading for the Uefa Europa League qualifiers, where they beat Vojvodina 4-1 on aggregate before edging past Panathinaikos on penalties after each side triumphed 1-0 away from home.

The Amsterdam club booked a spot in the league phase of the competition with a 7-1 thrashing of Jagiellonia over two legs, and their first league phase game arrives on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 5) as they host Besiktas at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Read below for my Ajax vs Besiktas prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Ajax head coach Francesco Farioli is still unable to call on injured trio Steven Berghuis, Gaston Avila and Sivert Mannsverk, while there are doubts over the fitness of Youri Baas and Amourricho van Axel Dongen, who both missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Go Ahead Eagles.

Wout Weghorst made his full debut for the club in that stalemate following his summer switch from Burnley but the 32-year-old may drop out of the starting XI on Thursday to make way for Brian Brobbey and/or Chuba Akpom.

Davy Klaassen scored Ajax's equaliser off the bench in Deventer to stake his claim for a starting berth against Besiktas and the likes of Owen Wijndal, Daniel Rugani and Benjamin Tahirovic will also be hoping for promotions from the bench.

Jordan Henderson could captain the side if Diant Ramaj replaces 40-year-old Remko Pasveer in goal.

Football Odds

Besiktas are without midfielder Necip Uysal for the trip to Amsterdam, with the 33-year-old last featuring in a 2-0 victory over Samsunspor on August 11.

Ciro Immobile is expected to keep his place at the point of attack but head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst may freshen things up around him, with Cher Ndour and Semih Kilicsoy both looking for starts.

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain hasn't been named in Besiktas' Europa League squad and thus won't be able to line up against his close friend and old teammate Henderson.

Ajax vs Besiktas Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Ajax vs Besiktas page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The hosts are 9/10 to kick off the league phase with a victory, giving them an implied win probability of 52.6%, while Besiktas are 3/1, or a 25% chance, to come away from the Netherlands with all three points.

The draw is available at 13/5, both teams to score at 8/13, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/11.

Akpom and Brobbey (both 6/4) head the anytime goal scorer market, followed by Weghorst (13/8).

Anytime Goal Scorer - Ciro Immobile (BES) @ 2/1

Immobile became synonymous with Lazio after joining in 2016 and spending eight seasons at the Stadio Olimpico, but the 34-year-old called time on his journey in Rome during the summer, swapping Italy for Turkey.

He's made a terrific start to life in Istanbul, scoring eight goals in as many games, including a brace in the 5-0 Super Cup thrashing of reigning league champions Galatasaray on his debut last month.

Immobile has scored in five separate matches so far, and his latest strike was a winner from the penalty spot on Sunday.

As a striker and, seemingly, Besiktas' designated penalty-taker, it's little wonder that the Italian is favourite to score for the Turkish club in Amsterdam this week.

I think 2/1 is still a solid enough price to back, considering the issues Ajax have encountered in defence this season, and in the last year as a whole. They've already conceded three times in the Eredivisie this term and have also let in an effort each from Vojvodina, Panathinaikos and Jagiellonia in Europe, so Besiktas should be confident of scoring at least once on Thursday, and if they do, you'd fancy it to come from their main man Immobile, who bagged a brace in the second leg of his side's Europa League play-off tie with Lugano last month.

Player to Receive a Card - Jordan Henderson (AJA) @ 7/2

Henderson's Saudi Arabia sojourn ended in January when he forced a departure to Ajax, who were desperate to recruit a leader in trying times for the club.

The former Liverpool captain made an instant impression on supporters but also suffered injuries during the second half of last season, missing the entirety of April before returning in May to guide his side to a fifth-place finish in the league.

The 34-year-old has started all but two of Ajax's games so far this term, including their last four, helping them to three wins on the spin before Saturday's 1-1 draw at Go Ahead Eagles.

Henderson has already picked up two yellow cards - both in Europa League qualifiers (versus Panathinaikos and Jagiellonia) - and the visit of Besiktas could well bring about a third on Thursday. The Englishman made three Conference League appearances for Ajax last season and was booked in the first of those - a 2-2 draw at home to Bodo/Glimt - for dissent, and he's likely to be in the ear of the referee throughout this week's European fixture at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

His experience could be vital in the middle of midfield, with tactical fouls potentially being required if the hosts commit too many men forward at one time, so I like the odds of 7/2 for Henderson to receive a card in Amsterdam.

Offers

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Carabao Cup or Europa League game on Wednesday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Thursday’s Europa League games.

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.