Young Boys Vs Ajax
Young Boys Vs Ajax Thursday 18th March 2021 – 20:00
UEFA Europa League, Round of 16
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 15th March 2021)
Preview: The onus in this second leg, scheduled to take place in Bern, Switzerland, is firmly on the home side, with Young Boys requiring a minimum of three goals against Ajax if they are to successfully overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg in Amsterdam.
UEFA Europa League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Young Boys – Round of 32 triumph blueprint for recovery?
Featuring in the Last-16 of the Europa League for the very first time, any hope of the three-time defending Swiss Super League champions making further inroads were dealt a hefty blow in the Netherlands, when Gerardo Seoane’s side were soundly beaten 3-0 in Amsterdam. Now, with the advantage of playing at their 32,000-capacity Wankdorf Stadion in Bern, Young Boys face an uphill tasks salvaging the tie.
All hope is not entirely lost, however. Young Boys boast a formidable record on their own patch, especially in Europe: the 14-time champions of Switzerland have only lost two of their previous twelve European home games, winning eight. That includes a 2-0 success over Ajax’s domestic rivals, Feyenoord, in last season’s group stage. Bringing their overall record versus Dutch opposition to W2 D1 L4 (W2 L1 as hosts).
Even more encouraging, though, will have been the performance in the round prior. In what looked an unfavourable tie, Young Boys swept aside Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen to progress 6-3 on aggregate. The Swiss side notched four in the home leg, albeit shipping three in return, before triumphing 2-0 on the road. Another four-goal showing in Bern would certainly make for an interesting return leg.
Ajax – Dutch to banish negative Round of 16 away record?
For much of the first leg in Amsterdam it looked like being a frustrating night’s work for Erik ten Hag’s side. Dominant throughout, limiting their guests at the Johan Cruyff Arena to zero attempts on Maarten Stekelenburg’s goal and a paltry 0.10 xG in total, it wasn’t until just past the hour mark that Ajax were rewarded for their persistence. A 3-0 scoreline just reward for an authoritative display in the Netherlands.
The Dutch side were equally as impressive in the round prior. Facing a Lille side leading the way in Ligue 1, Ajax showcased their never-say-die attitude with three late goals to register back-to-back 2-1 victories – netting an 88th-minute winner in the home leg, after scoring in the 87th and 89th minutes to turn around a 1-0 deficit in France. These battling qualities will almost certainly be needed in Bern on Thursday.
Ajax, despite boasting a wealth of knockout experience in European competition, have not fared so well this deep into the Europa League. In fact, this is only their fourth appearance at this stage in nine attempts, with their record from the Round of 16 onwards a dismal played five, lost five as the away side. A goal should settle any nerves, scoring exactly twice in three of four European away contests in 2020/21.
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Young Boys Vs Ajax Betting Advice
Back in Switzerland’s Super League, Young Boys sit a long way clear atop the summit but average 1.76 goals per game – well short of the three required to turn around a 3-0 deficit. They did, however, locate the back of the net in all three home matches during the group phase, only dropping points in a 2-1 loss to Roma – that just a second home defeat across their past 12 European matches here in Bern (W8 D2).
Young Boys Vs Ajax – Key Facts:
- Last week saw these teams contest a competitive fixture for the first time, Ajax scoring three second-half goals to seal a 3-0 win in Amsterdam.
- Young Boys boast three wins from four European home games in 2020/21, with three of these matches producing Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score.
- Ajax have scored precisely two goals in three of their four European away games this season; all three said matches featured Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score.
Our hosts would score four times at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, albeit in a 4-3 scoreline that clearly wouldn’t suffice on this occasion. Nevertheless, the potential to unearth a few goals is clearly there. The problem will be keeping out an Ajax team that has scored precisely two goals in three of their four European away matches this term, only failing to do so in a 1-0 loss in England to Liverpool.
Best Betting Odds – Young Boys Vs Ajax
Young Boys – 21/10 (BetVictor)
Draw – 14/5 (PaddyPower)
Ajax – 6/5 (Bet365)
