Ajax vs Panathinaikos Prediction 15.08.2024 | Europa League

• Competition: UEFA Europa League - Qualifying
• Date: Thursday, 15th, August 2024
• Kickoff: 19:15 UK / 20:15 CEST
• Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam)

Panathinaikos will aim to overturn Ajax's one-goal lead when they travel to Johan Cruyff Arena for the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie on Thursday.

Ajax vs Panathinaikos Betting Tips: UNDER 2.5

Even though both teams piled up scoring opportunities, Steven Berghuis's goal in the 28th minute was sufficient to put the teams apart, but with just a one-goal advantage, the Amsterdam outfit has a lot more to do to get closer to the Europa League group stage.

Being down by just one goal, the Greek behemoths have no reason to push for an early goal, as adopting such a strategy could backfire in the end, so another tight and slower-paced contest could unfold at Johan Cruyff Arena.

With Italian tactician Francesco Farioli at the helm, Ajax has adopted a new defensive rigor, showcasing remerkable resilience and strength in the early part of the season by allowing just one goal and posting three shutouts from their first four matches across all competitions.

Astonishingly, four of Ajax's most recent five wins have been achieved with the same 1-0 scoreline, with one of those triumphs coming against Panathinaikos' arch-rivals Olympiakos in the final preseason test on July 19.

The green-clad Athenians certainly have the capacity to force extra time at the very least, but their bluntness in front of goal displayed in recent matches on foreign soil might be cause for concern, having fired blanks in three of their last five visits of any format.

Even with the fervent support of their fans during last week's first-leg, Panathinaikos' attacking efforts were completely neutralized by Ajax's ironclad defensive unit, which allowed them just four shots on target over 90+ minutes.

Therefore, we imagine that the Amsterdam club's backline will once again be up to the task, and it wouldn't surprise us if they record their fourth shotout in five competitive matches to date, with goal action likely kept to a minimum in what could be a drab contest.