Dutch giants Ajax begin their quest to qualify for the 2024-25 Europa League when they play host to Serbian outfit FK Vojvodina in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie on Thursday evening.
The winners of this two-legged contest will face either Panathinaikos or Botev Plovdiv in the third qualifying round.
Match preview
Ajax are bidding to quickly put aside their dismal 2023-24 campaign in which they finished as low as fifth in the Eredivisie table for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, ending the season a staggering 35 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven.
Few would have envisaged the 36-time Dutch champions sitting rock bottom of the top-flight standings heading into November, but following the interim appointment of John van't Schip, Ajax put together much-needed runs of form over the winter months and latter stages of the campaign to climb into the top five and secure a Europa League qualification spot.
Van't Schip is no longer in charge of Ajax and a new era has begun under the tutelage of 35-year-old Francesco Farioli, who officially took the reins on June 11 after leaving Ligue 1 club Nice and has since taken charge of five friendly fixtures in preparation for 2024-25.
After losing their opening match of pre-season to PEC Zwolle, Ajax have put together a four-game winning run, beating Sint-Truiden, Rangers, Al-Wasl and Olympiacos by an aggregate score of 9-2, securing a slender 1-0 win in their most recent match against the latter last Friday.
Ajax boast an impressive pedigree on the continent having qualified for some form of European competition in 33 of the last 34 years - reaching the last 16 of the Europa Conference League last season - and they will fancy their chances of securing their spot in next season's newly-formed Europa League.
Standing in their way of advancing from the second qualifying round is FK Vojvodina, who are competing for a place in the Europa League after finishing fourth in the Serbian SuperLiga last season.
The White-Reds were pushed all the way in the race for a top-four finish by Radnicki 1923 and Cukaricki, but they accumulated 19 points from their final 21 available to finish above the former on goal difference.
Bozidar Bandovic, who has been in charge since December last year, was impressed with the performances of his side during a perfect pre-season programme, winning three games out of three and scoring eight goals in the process.
Vojvodina carried their positive momentum into their opening Serbian top-flight match of the new season, as they beat Tekstilac Odzaci 3-1 away from home on Sunday, maintaining the club's high spirits ahead of Thursday's tricky trip to Amsterdam.
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Team News
Ajax left-back Owen Wijndal has emerged as a doubt after he was forced off with a hand/arm injury in the friendly win over Olympiacos, so Borna Sosa could be handed a start on the left side of a four-man defence.
It remains to be seen whether attacking duo Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn will return to the first-team fold after they were given extended breaks following their involvement with the Netherlands at Euro 2024; Ajax will, however, be without goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli as he is representing Argentina at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Bertrand Traore is Ajax's only signing so far this summer and the attacker is in contention to feature on Thursday, as are Jordan Henderson, Diant Ramaj, Devyne Rensch, Kenneth Taylor and Chuba Akpom.
As for Vojvodina, new recruit Marko Velickovic scored on his competitive debut for the club last weekend and is expected to continue in the number 10 role, while fellow new signings Njegos Petrovic and Marko Poletanovic could operate further back in deeper midfield positions.
Andrija Radulovic was also on target last time out, scoring as a substitute, and he is set to battle with Uros Nikolic and Caleb Zady Sery for a place on either flank.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Janse, Sosa; Van den Boomen, Henderson, Taylor; Forbs, Akpom, Berghuis
FK Vojvodina possible starting lineup:
Carevi; Butean, Korac, Drobnjak, Dordevic; Petrovi, Poletanovic; Nikolic, Velickovic, Zady Sery; Vukanovic
We say: Ajax 2-0 FK Vojvodina
Ajax should not take Vojvodina lightly considering their pre-season form and strong start to the new domestic campaign, but the Dutch giants themselves have shown signs of promise in pre-season and they will be regarded as favourites to come out on top and take an advantage into next week's second leg.
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