New layout
The first phase of the main tournament of the second European tournament this season consists of 36 teams. These teams are no longer divided into groups, but each play eight matches in the ‘League Phase’: four at home and four away against eight different teams.
Ajax will play SS Lazio, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş at home and Slavia Prague, Real Sociedad, Qarabağ FK and FC RFS away. The fixtures will be announced by UEFA on Saturday.
The top eight teams in the rankings, after eight rounds, go directly to the last sixteen. Numbers nine to 24 play knockout matches against each other to determine which eight teams also qualify for the last sixteen. Numbers 25 to 36 are eliminated in Europe.
Preliminary rounds
Francesco Farioli’s side reached the Europa League main tournament after FK Vojvodina, Panathinaikos and Jagiellonia Białystok were knocked out in the preliminary rounds.
History
Ajax has faced Turkish Beşiktaş the most in the past. In the previous six official encounters, Ajax won six times. Slavia Prague was the opponent three times: a draw and two defeats. Ajax faced Maccabi Tel-Aviv twice in an official encounter. That resulted in a win and a loss.
Ajax have never played an official match against SS Lazio, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Qarabağ FK and FC RFS. However, the Amsterdammers have played practice matches against SS Lazio, Real Sociedad and Galatasaray in the past.
Before the training we asked the Ajax players which opponents they were hoping for. Wout Weghorst, Chuba Akpom and Branco van den Boomen got what they wanted.
