Ajax vs Manchester United – UEFA Europa League – Preview

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Sreya

Ajax vs Manchester United – Manchester United face Ajax at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on 24th May, Wednesday in the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Ajax faced Schalke 04 in the quarter-finals when they had to rely on extra-time to defeat the German club. Against Olympique Lyon in the semi-finals, Ajax won 4-1 in the first leg but lost 3-1 in the away leg.

Manchester United, meanwhile, relied on scoring draws to qualify for the finals. Two 1-1 draws against Anderlecht in the quarter-finals with a goal in the extra-time helped them set up a meeting with Celta de Vigo in the semi-finals. A 2-1 win away from home followed by yet another 1-1 draw helped Manchester United secure their place in the Friends Arena.

With Jose Mourinho’s side finishing sixth in the English Premier League, Manchester United need to win the UEFA Europa League to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Team News

Nick Viergarver is suspended while Daley Sinkgraven will face a late fitness test. Manchester United will be without the suspended Eric Bailly and the injured Marcos Rojo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young.

Ajax Possible Starting Lineup: Andre Onana, Joel Veltman, Davinson Sanchez, Matthijs de Lijt, Daley Sinkgraven, Davy Klaasen, Lasse Schone, Hakim Ziyech, Bertrand Traore, Kasper Dolberg, Amin Younes.

Manchester United Possible Starting Lineup: Sergio Romero, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

“We have to win.  It’s a defining moment in our season and we need to make sure we win the game. We want Champions League football; it’s what we have to do to win the game. We deserve to be in the final, but we have to show up and prove we are good enough and that’s what we will do.”

– Phil Jones, Manchester United.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Ajax vs Manchester United H2H Stats, the last two matches between these two clubs ended in a win for either side.

Although Ajax have been terrific at home with seven wins from seven games, they have struggled in the away games and Manchester United have their own problems with injuries and lack of precision in front of the goal.

It should be an intriguing match, but Manchester United are likely to win 2-1.