Ajax will set out to kickstart their Champions League campaign with a first victory on Wednesday when they welcome Galatasaray to the Johan Cruyff Arena in the fourth round of group-stage matches.
While the hosts have been shambolic on the continental front, where they have suffered three straight defeats, their visitors have recovered from a shaky start and will head to Amsterdam seeking a third consecutive UCL triumph.
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Ajax vs Galatasaray prediction: More European heartbreak for de Godenzonen
Key stats
- Galatasaray are unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions.
- Four of the last five matches involving the Turkish giants have seen both teams score, and the same can be said about their Dutch counterparts.
- Ajax have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 straight outings leading up to Wednesday's affair.
Correct score prediction: Ajax 1-2 Galatasaray
Having scored just once and conceded a whopping 11 goals, Ajax have the joint-worst defensive and attacking records in this season's Champions League and unsurprisingly sit bottom of the standings.
Galatasaray boast more than enough quality at the top end of the pitch to exploit their hosts' deficiencies at the back, and we are leaning towards a narrow win for the away side when all is said and done.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Ajax up against it
- HOME: 21/10 (3.10) – 32.3%
- DRAW: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
- AWAY: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
After a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen in their most recent outing, Ajax have been given only a 32.3% chance of returning to winning ways here with a home win currently priced at 21/10 (3.10).
Johnny Heitinga's men looked to be on their way to claiming consecutive wins in the aforementioned match, having taken the lead through Mika Godts before they were pegged back by Vaclav Sejk midway through the second period.
Similarly, Galatasaray also had to settle for a share of the spoils last time out as their three-game winning streak ended following a goalless stalemate against Trabzonspor on Saturday.
Nonetheless, Okan Buruk's men have been dubbed favourites to secure maximum points on Wednesday with a 47.6% win probability.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: All-square after two meetings
Wednesday's clash in Amsterdam will see Ajax and Galatasaray face off for the second straight season, but only the third time in history.
Ajax claimed a 2-1 win when the sides last met in January's Europa League group-stage encounter, just over 11 years since the first encounter in 2024 when Galatasaray recorded a friendly 2-1 triumph.
UEFA Europa League 30/01/25
Ajax
Galatasaray
Ajax preview: Skipper missing through suspension
Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off in the 5-1 defeat to Chelsea and is ineligible to play any part here.
Dutchmen Steven Berghuis and Branco van den Boomen are also ruled out with groin and back injuries respectively, while Kasper Dolberg is still nursing an abdominal strain.
Predicted lineup: Pasveer(GK), Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Wijndal, Klaassen, Mokio, Moro, Gloukh, Godts & Weghorst
Ajax's last five matches:
- Ajax 1-1 Heerenveen (Eredivisie)
- Twente 2-3 Ajax (Eredivisie)
- Chelsea 5-1 Ajax (Champions League)
- Ajax 0-2 AZ Alkmaar (Eredivisie)
- Sparta Rotteerdam 3-3 Ajax (Eredivisie)
Galatasaray preview: Ilkay Gundogan's availability hanging in the balance
After missing Galatasaray's last three matches due to a calf problem, German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is a doubt for Wednesday's trip to the Netherlands.
However, the away side are blessed with a plethora of options in the centre of the pitch and are well equipped to deal with Gundogan's potential absence.
Predicted lineup: Cakir(GK), Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs, Sane, Lemina, Torreira, Akgun, Yilmaz & Osimhen
Galatasaray's last five matches:
- Galatasaray 0-0 Trabzonspor (Super Lig)
- Galatasaray 3-1 Goztepe (Super Lig)
- Galatasaray 3-1 Bodo/Glimt (Champions League)
- Basaksehir 1-2 Galatasaray (Super Lig)
- Galatasaray 1-1 Besiktas (Super Lig)
Player to watch – Victor Osimhen
Osimhen saw his run of scoring in three consecutive starts end against Trabzonspor last time out, but the Nigerian was a tad unlucky not to have found the back of the net.
The striker has netted six times in 10 matches across all competitions this term, including three in two UCL appearances, thanks to his double against Bodo/Glimt back in October.
Osimhen was on target for Galatasaray the last time they faced off against Ajax and will be expected to provide the goods once again.