The opposition
Ajax have won the Dutch league title 36 times and the domestic cup on 20 occasions, while they also have numerous European trophies among their collection.
Alongside Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United, they are one of five clubs to have won all four major continental titles: the European Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
The coach
Italian tactician Francesco Farioli took over the reins at the start of the current season. At 35, he is the second-youngest coach among all clubs participating in the Europa League this term, behind 32-year-old Swedish coach Oscar Hiljemark at IF Elsborg.
Born in the Italian town of Barga, Farioli held coaching roles at Nice, Alanyaspor and Karagümrük prior to joining Ajax.
Tactics
As is typical for a Dutch team, Farioli tends to send his side out in a 4-3-3 formation. In goal is Remko Pasveer, who has made the fourth-highest number of saves in the current Europa League season, while Daniele Rugani, Josip Sutalo and Youri Baas vie for the centre-back berths. Jorrel Hato and Lucas Rosa are the first-choice full-backs.
Jordan Henderson, Ajax captain.
Goalkeeper Pasveer, 41, was on the books at Vitesse Arnhem between 2017 and 2021. In his final year there, Jan Fießer – now one of Dino Toppmöller’s assistants – was on the coaching staff. “I know him from our time at Vitesse,” said Fießer. “He’s very experienced, a sensational footballer.”
Form
Ajax are riding high in the Eredivisie on the back of nine consecutive league wins. That run of results has lifted them to the top the standings, eight points clear of defending champions – and Mario Götze’s former club – PSV Eindhoven in second place.
Path to the last 16
Farioli’s side ended the league phase in 12th place with three points fewer than Eintracht, and had to subsequently navigate their way through the knockout round play-offs. After beating Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 in the first leg, the return fixture a week later went to extra time. Although Ajax ultimately lost that game 2-1, they went through to the round of 16 on aggregate.
Incidentally, Ajax have not won any of their last six European home games in the knockout stages, dating back to 2020/21. However, they have only lost one of their 21 home fixtures to date against German clubs in European competition.
Head to head
These clubs have faced each other twice in friendlies, but never before in a competitive fixture.
Reunion
Rasmus Kristensen laced his boots for Ajax from January 2018 to summer 2019, helping the club to a league and cup double.
