Vojvodina vs Ajax Prediction: Visitors’ class to shine through in second half

After a dismal 2023/24 campaign that saw them finish fifth in the Eredivisie and fail to qualify for the Champions League, Ajax supporters can be forgiven for expecting a stern response from their side this season.

However, after scraping past Vojvodina 1-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam last week, the Dutch giants are vulnerable to a Europa League second-qualifying round exit in Serbia on Thursday (19:00). Read on for my Vojvodina vs Ajax prediction and all the latest team news ahead of this second leg at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola.

Football Odds

Team News

Neither side was in action over the weekend meaning both have had a full week to prepare for Thursday's match.

There are doubts over the fitness of Vojvodina duo Djordje Crnomarkovic and Vukan Savicevic, however, with both forced from the field in Amsterdam.

Ajax are still without injured quartet Owen Wijndal, Gaston Avila, Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen and Jay Gorter, while Geronimo Rulli is still competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Argentina.

Branco van den Boomen struck the only goal of the game in the first leg and could be promoted from the bench in place of Kian Fitz-Jim in Backa Topola.

Vojvodina vs Ajax Odds

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The hosts are 7/2 to win in regulation time on Thursday, a result which would, at the very least, force the tie into extra-time, while Ajax are 3/5 favourites to do the double over their opponents. A draw would be enough for the visitors to progress, and a stalemate is priced at 3/1.

Both teams to score is 8/13, over 2.5 total goals is 4/7, and a repeat of last week's scoreline in favour of Ajax is 8/1.

Double Chance & Both Teams To Score - Draw or Ajax & Yes @ 19/20

It was a slog for Ajax in last week's first leg as they laboured to a 1-0 victory in the Netherlands. Substitute Van den Boomen was the hero as he struck an 86th-minute winner to spare de Godenzonen's blushes.

New head coach Francesco Fariol, who joined from French club OGC Nice, will be targeting an improved showing in Serbia on Thursday, but given the difficulties they endured in Amsterdam, there are no guarantees they will flick the switch this week.

Vojvodina are hampered by the fact the match is taking place away from their home in Novi Sad, instead being played 75km north in Backa Topola, and that may reduce their chances of a famous victory.

However, they showed enough last week to give themselves the belief that they can unsettle the Dutch giants on Thursday. Vojvodina took 10 shots, hitting the target with three of them, and this Ajax side is unrecognisable from previous incarnations.

Fariol will surely prove his worth in time but it's early days in the Italian's era and Vojvodina can prey on any vulnerabilities present.

I think the Serbian side can get on the scoresheet, but the Eredivisie outfit have enough firepower up front to avoid an embarrassing exit from the competition.

Half-time/Full-time - Vojvodina/Draw @ 14/1

Vojvodina will be looking to make a fast start in Backa Topola as they bid to dump the Dutch side out of the Europa League qualifying rounds. The Serbians will be aware that a failure to get an early goal could severely dent their chances of progression as Ajax are comfortable keeping the ball and tiring out their opponents.

I expect their supporters to create a hostile atmosphere at their temporary home and rally them to an early lead.

However, the class of Ajax should shine through in the second half, and I would back them to get the goal they need to level the scores on the day and advance to the third qualifying round on aggregate.

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