The Europa League league phase gets under way across the continent on Thursday night.
Quick Ajax vs Besiktas betting tips
Besiktas or draw – 9/10 with Betfred
Under 2.5 goals – Evens with Betfred
Ciro Immobile to score any time – 9/5 with Betfred
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Ajax vs Besiktas odds
Find the latest match odds for Ajax vs Besiktas. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed football bookmakers. Odds are subject to change.
Ajax vs Besiktas predictions
Last season was not Ajax’s finest hour. A club used to winning trophies on an annual basis failed to pick up a single piece of silverware in 2023/24 – and that was not the worst of it.
Ajax ended the Eredivisie campaign down in fifth spot, their lowest finish since 1999/00. A tally of 56 points was their worst in the three-for-a-win era.
Ajax did not fare any better in other competitions. Indeed, it was the first season in which they did not finish as at least runners-up in any event since 2008/09.
In 10 matches in Europe, Ajax won only two. They finished third in their Europa League group and then dropped down into the Conference League, out of which they were dumped by Aston Villa in a 4-0 aggregate defeat.
What went wrong? For one Ajax had four different head coaches throughout the campaign, a situation which did not exactly promote stability.
There were other off-field issues too, characterised by the fact they had three different chief executives in 2023/24.
On the pitch Ajax were leaky at the back, conceding a remarkable 61 goals in 34 league games.
Ajax will almost certainly be better this time around, but it will not necessarily be a quick route back to the summit of the Dutch game.
It has been a stop-start opening to the new campaign for the Amsterdamers, who have only played four Eredivisie games after two matches were called off due to policing issues in the Netherlands’ biggest city.
This meeting with Besiktas is set to go ahead as the Europa League gets under way. There is no group stage in this competition any more, with all 36 teams instead ranked in the same league table.
A top-eight finish is the goal as that would automatically send a side through to the round of 16, while finishing between ninth and 24th would be sufficient for a place in the knockout phase play-offs.
Both Ajax and Besiktas will be looking to get their campaigns off to a winning start when they go head-to-head at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Thursday.
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Ajax vs Besiktas betting tips
Ajax and Besiktas will go head-to-head in the first round of fixtures in the 2024/25 Europa League.
Besiktas or draw
Besiktas have had an unbeaten start to the Super Lig season over in Turkey, but two draws in six games mean they find themselves five points adrift of Galatasaray in top spot.
They did thump Galatasaray 5-0 in the Turkish Super Cup, however, while Besiktas had to get past Lugano in the Europa League play-offs before reaching the tournament proper.
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All of which shows that Ajax will not have everything their own way on Thursday, not least because they have not been able to get into a proper rhythm due to the various disruptions so far.
Ajax were unconvincing in the Europa League third qualifying round, requiring penalties to get past Panathinaikos.
They lost the home leg of that tie 1-0 and we would not be shocked by a similar outcome on matchday one of the league phase, although it is worth hedging your bets via the double chance market.
Go for a Besiktas win or a draw at 9/10 with Betfred
Under 2.5 goals
Ajax have some potentially tricky matches on the horizon in the Europa League, with Lazio, Real Sociedad and Galatasaray among their opponents.
Home games will be particularly important to their chances of progressing to the round of 16 directly, and they will be determined to get off to a positive start here.
Besiktas could have some joy in frustrating their hosts, however. They have only conceded four goals in five Super Lig matches and will aim to be similarly defensively resolute in Amsterdam.
Ajax could be a little tentative given the vulnerabilities that built up after last season’s disappointment, which is another reason to suspect a tight and cagey affair.
Unfortunately for neutrals seeking entertainment, goals could be few and far between.
Tip under 2.5 goals at evens with Betfred
Ciro Immobile to score any time
Ciro Immobile is coming towards the end of his distinguished career, but the former Italy international still has something to give at this level.
The striker ended his eight-year association with Lazio in the summer, joining Besiktas when his contract at the Stadio Olimpico expired.
He is off to a flying start in Istanbul, having found the back of the net eight times in eight appearances in all competitions at the time of writing.
A lethal finisher whose movement helps him to escape even the tightest defensive marking, Immobile is the man that Besiktas will most want to get the ball to in and around the penalty area.
If the 34-year-old is supplied with the right ammunition, he has the tools to take full advantage.
Choose Ciro Immobile to score any time at 9/5 with Betfred
How to watch Ajax vs Besiktas
Location: Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Date and time: Thursday 26th September, 8pm.
How to watch: TNT Sports 2.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
Premier League winner predictions
Premier League top 4 finish odds
Premier League relegation odds
Premier League top scorer odds
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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