Bodo/Glimt vs Ajax Prediction: Gronbaek to heap further misery on Dutch giants

Ajax will look to break out of a four-game winless run when they take on Bodo/Glimt in the second-leg of their Europa Conference League play-off tie at Aspmyra Stadion on Thursday (KO, 17:45).

The Dutch giants haven't tasted victory since January 27, with last week's failure to beat Bodo/Glimt potentially the most painful of their results since as they were 2-0 down until added time when they capitalised on Odin Luras Bjortuft's red card to score twice.

They now have the chance to avenge that scoreline as they seek to progress to the Europa Conference League Round of 16, but it won't be an easy task against a side with an impressive home record.

Team News

Bodo/Glimt will be without the aforementioned Bjortuft on account of his dismissal in the reverse fixture, while Runar Espejord, Nikita Haikin and Kasper Hogh are also expected to be sidelined on Thursday.

Ajaz are still shorn of the services of Gaston Avila and Steven Bergwijn while there are some big decisions to be made on the make-up of the starting XI following Sunday's disappointing 2-2 draw with NEC Nijmegen.

Borna Sosa, Chuba Akpom and Carlos Forbs are among those pushing for starts, with the latter putting himself in contention with a goal on the weekend.

Match Odds

Bodo/Glimt are 11/8 to win and secure safe passage into the competition's Round of 16, with Ajax priced at 7/4 to secure the victory themselves. The draw, which would send the tie to extra-time and potentially penalties, can be found at 11/4.

Both teams to find the net again is 2/5 and a repeat of over 3.5 goals can be backed at 11/10.

Bodo/Glimt or draw and both teams to score - Yes @ EVS

You can be pretty certain of one thing when you watch Ajax this season - it's going to be an entertaining contest full of goals.

The Dutch side have been involved in 92 goals in the Eredivisie alone, conceding 41 of them, while they also shipped 13 in six Europa League group games. Scoring hasn't been an issue for them, but keeping them out at the other end has.

Both teams have scored in their last 14 games in all competitions, stretching back to their 4-3 defeat at Marseille in November. Of those 14, Ajax failed to win half.

Bodo/Glimt have scored in their last four European outings and rarely lose at home - they fell to just a single defeat in their previous league campaign, and only Club Brugge (0-1) were able to take points off them in the Europa Conference League group stage.

Given the Norwegian side's strong home record, and the fact Ajax have been poor travellers this season - they've won just five times on the road in all competitions - Bodo/Glimt should have enough to at least take the tie to extra-time.

Albert Gronbaek to score anytime @ 23/10

The Danish midfielder was the star of the first-leg as his brace put Bodo/Glimt in a strong position to win in the Netherlands before their late collapse.

The 22-year-old's record since joining the Eliteserien side in August 2022 is also impressive. Gronbaek scored nine times in 28 league appearances last season and has six goals in the Europa Conference League this term (Bodo/Glimt started their European campaign in the second qualifying round in July 2023).

Given the goals he scored in Amsterdam, and the ease with which Ajax have been opened up this year - they've conceded at least twice in a game on five separate occasions in 2024 - 23/10 for Gronbaek to score anytime on his own patch feels generous.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.