Ajax vs Lazio Prediction: Pedro to continue fine Europa form

The Europa League takes centre-stage on Thursday night and we’ve got a collision of giants to look forward to, as Ajax host Lazio at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (20:00, TNT Sports). This is perhaps surprisingly, going to be the first-ever meeting between these two sides, and Lazio currently top the table in the new Europa League format. 

Ajax meanwhile sit sixth, having been beaten 2-0 by Real Sociedad last time out and they will hope to get back to winning ways here, having won both of their games at home so far. Take a read below at my Ajax vs Lazio prediction, featuring team news and betting tips. 

Football Odds

Team News

Captain Jordan Henderson has been suffering with a hamstring issue of late, and it kept him on the bench last time out in the Eredivisie. However, he looks set to return in this one to start in midfield, but Owen Wijndal is suspended. On a positive note, Devyne Rensch could also return from his layoff but unfortunately Sivert Mannsverk has been ruled out.

Mika Godts came off the bench to play on the left-wing against AZ, and could replace Chuba Akpom from the start, who played out wide despite preferring a central role. Godts has hit three goals in this competition so far, as has teammate Kenneth Taylor who is set to start once more. Taylor will follow in the footsteps of Dennis Bergkamp if he scores on Thursday, by becoming only the second Ajax player to score in four consecutive UEFA Cup/Europa League appearances.

For the away side, Dutch forward Tijjani Noslin could start up top, having scored a hat-trick in the recent cup win over Napoli. Lazio are coming off the back of back-to-back games against Napoli in league and cup, coming away with two impressive victories against Antonio Conte’s men.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Taty Castellanos, Lazio’s star striker who started on Sunday and picked up a yellow card. It remains to be seen whether there will be more rotation here, with the Eagles currently fifth in Serie A. Marco Baroni is in the privileged position to have a fully-fit squad available for this trip to the Netherlands, as Mathias Vecino returns from injury and Nicolo Rovella is available after serving a one-match ban.

Ajax vs Lazio Odds

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

Having secured 5-0 and 4-0 home wins in this competition already, Ajax are priced at 5/4 to win this game. Lazio are priced at 21/10 to get the three points, having won four and drawn one in the Europa League so far this season. A draw can be backed at 5/2, while over 2.5 goals is 4/6 and BTTS is 8/15.

Brian Brobbey only has one league goal to his name so far this season for Ajax, but he is the favourite to score first, priced at 11/2 to find the net before anybody else on Thursday night.

Over 2.5 goals @ 4/6

Lazio have scored three goals on three occasions during their last five outings, while over 2.5 goals has come in three times out of five in the Europa League so far this season. Meanwhile, Ajax love a thrilling game, and six of their last eight fixtures have finished with over 2.5 goals. The Dutch giants have secured 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0 wins in the Europa League already, and their attacking quality speaks for itself.

With threats such as Wout Weghorst, Akpom, Brobbery and Bertrand Traore, Ajax should be able to put Lazio under pressure on home soil. However, Lazio have plenty of threats of their own - one of which we will talk about next. This game should be a cracker, with lots of goals.

Pedro to score anytime @ 13/5

Pedro has been the master of the Europa League this season and although he has lost his place recently in Serie A, the veteran winger should come back in to play in this away game. The Biancocelesti face Inter Milan on Monday and that is a big game on the horizon, so changes could be made, and players like Pedro are set to benefit.

He’s scored three goals in the league, but also bagged three goals in five Europa League appearances in 2024/25, finding the net when Lazio visited the Netherlands to face FC Twente a couple of months ago. He seems to be slightly more profitable when played in central areas, so it will be worth keeping an eye on where he is deployed by the manager. I think he can find the net again.

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