Ajax was close to scoring twice with Brian Brobbey and Kenneth Taylor. Aston Villa seemed to be able to live with a draw. The English did not seriously endanger goalkeeper Diant Ramaj of the home team.
It looked like Aston Villa wanted to waste as little energy as possible. The surprising number 4 of the Premier League will receive fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. With a win, a direct ticket for the next edition of the Champions League will come very close.
Aston Villa left possession of the ball to Ajax, which was missing the injured Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis and the suspended Josip Sutalo. Trainer John van ‘t Schip had opted for the same basic formation as against FC Utrecht on Sunday. Ajax also played with five defenders again. The Turk Ahmetcan Kaplan made a reliable impression at the center back, with Jordan Henderson and Sivert Mannsverk in front of him.
Whatever Ajax tried before halftime, Aston Villa’s defense hardly got into trouble. Who else but Brobbey fought his way to the visitors’ goal in the 34th minute. The striker failed to take advantage of the only chance before half time. He shot into the side netting. Aston Villa was unable to field Ollie Watkins, number 2 on the Premier League top scorers list with sixteen goals.
Taylor close to goal
Even in the second half, Aston Villa did not show why it has already taken 11 points away from Manchester United in the Premier League. Ajax lacked creative players to really make the guests from Birmingham nervous. Although Kenneth Taylor almost scored the opening goal in the 67th minute. The midfielder did not shoot the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Argentina’s hero in the penalty shootout against the Dutch national team at the last World Cup in Qatar.
Van ‘t Schip brought an extra attacker in the final phase with Chuba Akpom. The Briton was knocked down during his first action by Ezri Konsa, who received his second yellow card of the match. Ajax only played three minutes with one more man. Then Tristan Gooijer also had to leave with a second print.