Ajax v Manchester United Betting Tips: Both can get on score-sheet in Europa final

May 22 2017
May 22 2017
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Stockholm is the venue for one of the final European games of the season on Wednesday night as Ajax play Manchester United for the right not only to get their hands on the Europa League trophy but also the right to play in next season’s Champions League.

Domestically, Ajax have been on a good run in the last few weeks with six wins from their final seven league games. However, they still lost the league title to Feyenoord on the final day. This is Ajax’s first European final since 1996 and they will be determined to get their hands on that precious trophy this season.

The Amsterdam side have been excellent in both boxes this season with 79 scored and just 23 conceded in 34 league matches – the second-best in the division. However, in the Europa League, there have been plenty of goals at both ends of the pitch with 17 total goals in their six group stage games whilst they found the back of the net in all but one of their European knockout round matches this campaign, conceding nine. It is also worth noting that Ajax have had more attempts on goal than any other side in the Europa League (225). Only Real Madrid have had more shots in all European competitions but just the one more with 226.

Although this is technically a neutral venue, it should be mentioned that Peter Bosz’s men have been poor away from the Amsterdam ArenA in Europe this season with just one victory in seven.

Manchester United played the kids at the weekend in order to ensure that their senior first team players were fresh for this final on Wednesday, such is the importance of getting into the Champions League after a disappointing season in the league. They did win that game against Crystal Palace but were on a bad run coming into it so confidence is probably not that high. United may have more European final experience in recent years, however, this is their first ever Europa League final and the first European final this revamped United squad will have experienced.

Mourinho’s men have been very conservative this season and possessed the second-best defensive record in the Premier League with just 29 goals conceded. Their problem was that they were poor in the final third with the worst goal-scoring record in the top seven. In terms of Europe, they are the joint-third-highest scorers in the Europa League, however, having failed to score more than once in normal time since February, their reasonable goals total of 23 just comes from playing more games rather than being a good attacking outfit.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last five Europa League matches away from Old Trafford and they also won the League Cup on neutral ground back in February. However, it is worth mentioning that they have not won their last two European finals and failed to win one in normal time since 1999.

United are the favourites here by some way but I actually think that it will be closer than people think. Ajax will no doubt take their attacking game to United and, even though United are decent at the back, you’d have to fancy the Dutch side to hurt them. When United recently faced an attacking Spurs outfit, they struggled to contain them and could easily do the same here. However, as a result of their attacking philosophy, Ajax are often caught short at the back and so United should profit on the counter. ‘Both Teams to Score’ looks a good bet at 11/10.

Click here to see stats and more tips for the Europa League final.

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