Thursday, 24 August 2023 at 08:34 • Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 09:26
Ajax starts its European adventure on Thursday evening with a visit to Bulgaria. In two games, Ludogorets from Razgrad must be defeated for a spot in the Europa League group stage. Maurice Steijn is expected to make one change to his starting eleven in addition to Steven Berghuis. Anass Salah-Eddine has to make way for Owen Wijndal.
The left back position was one of the biggest concerns for Steijn in the first two Eredivisie matches. Salah-Eddine started with both, but made a weak impression, especially against Excelsior (2-2). He was already replaced at halftime against the Kralingers by Wijndal, who was also unable to convince in his minutes. Partly for this reason, Ajax collected Gastón Ávila for millions from Royal Antwerp.
However, Ávila is not yet in Bulgaria. Wijndal can therefore show it from the start. He forms a defense with Devyne Rensch, Jakov Medic and Jorrel Hato for goalkeeper Jay Gorter. Acquisition Josip Sutalo is not yet eligible to play; Anton Gaaei may get minutes as a substitute. Berghuis returns to midfield: the playmaker is suspended in the Eredivisie, but is allowed to play ‘normally’ in Europe. Berghuis replaces Forbs, as a result of which Mohammed Kudus moves to the right wing position.
The line-up is completed by Brian Brobbey and captain Steven Bergwijn. Chuba Akpom is still waiting for his work permit and is not there yet. There is a good chance that Sergio Padt will start at Ludogorets; the Dutch goalkeeper is the undisputed first choice in Bulgaria and will meet the club where he was trained with Ajax. Steijn will face his first European game on Thursday since 2011. Then the coach with ADO Den Haag had no chance against Omonia Nicosia in the third preliminary round of the Europa League.
Probable Ajax line-up: Gorter; Rensch, Medic, Hato, Wijndal; Van den Boomen, Tahirovic, Berghuis; Kudus, Brobbey, Bergwijn
2023-08-24 09:43:00
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