Aston Villa are an ‘easier opponent’ for Ajax than Bodø/Glimt, with the Premier League side there to be gotten at.
That’s according to former manager turned pundit Aad de Mos, who believes the Dutch side will have opportunities against Unai Emery’s side in their Europa Conference League clash this evening.
Aston Villa take on the Dutch giants in the Netherlands this evening, the first of two legs between the two sides in their last 16 clash in the competition.
They head into that game as favourites given the seasons the two clubs are having so far, with Aston Villa competing for a place in the top four in the Premier League and Ajax fifth in the Eredivisie, 27 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven after flirting with relegation.
Most are expecting a comfortable win for Emery and his team given that, and the talent available to the Villans, whose squad is full of players currently performing at their best under Emery’s guidance.
De Mos isn’t so convinced, though, believing their system provides opportunities for Ajax to exploit in the game.
“There will be spaces there. Aston Villa plays very offensively, which may allow Ajax to get balls behind the defense and put Brobbey to work,” he told Het Parool, relayed by Soccer News.
“This match is easier than the one against Bodø/Glimt. Ajax is the underdog, but AZ, which played against Aston Villa earlier this season, also had chances. I expect a small defeat or a draw on Thursday.
“That seems to me to be the maximum for Ajax, unless Brobbey and Taylor are in top form and take advantage of Aston Villa’s non-closing offside traps.”
