Bodo/Glimt and Ajax meet in the second leg of their Europa Conference League playoff tie on Thursday night with everything very much in the balance.
In the reverse fixture last week, Ajax somehow salvaged a 2-2 draw, giving them the momentum ahead of their trip to Norway.
Match preview
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When Ajax returned after the winter break to record three successive wins, the expectation had been that they would kick on from continuing on an upward trajectory under John van't Schip.
Although they deserve credit for a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven, Ajax are now on a four-game winless streak, failing to defeat either of Heerenveen or NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie.
As a result, Ajax now sit a significant eight points adrift of third place and face a battle on their hands to earn a spot in next season's Europa League.
Winning this competition may be their best bet on this front, yet they are only level in this tie courtesy of two goals being scored in added-on time in the first leg at home.
Remarkably, it extended the run of Ajax scoring and conceding in consecutive games to 14 and no-one will bet against that continuing on Thursday night.
In usual circumstances, Bodo/Glimt may have been delighted with a 2-2 draw away at Ajax, yet they will be wondering how they let slip such a commanding advantage in Amsterdam.
Fitness played its part - it was Molde's first competitive game since December - but the Norwegian champions cannot use that as an excuse having reached 90 minutes with a clean sheet intact.
On the plus side, Kjetil Knutsen's side now have that competitive game under their belts and a week of recovery ahead of one of the biggest European fixtures in their history.
While they reached the quarter-finals of this competition in 2021-22, that remains their best effort on the continent and taking the scalp of Ajax would put them well on their way to at least replicating that feat.
Team News
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Bodo/Glimt will definitely be without Odin Bjortuft after the defender was sent off having been dismissed as a substitute in the first leg.
Sondre Brunstad Fet, Jostein Gundersen and Albert Gronbaek also sustained injuries during that game, leaving Ulrik Saltnes, Marius Lode and Oscar Kapscarmo on standby to come into the side.
Having tinkered with his starting lineup at the weekend, Ajax boss Van't Schip could revert back to a team close to the one that started the reverse fixture.
However, Carlos Forbs scored as a substitute against NEC and may start on the left flank, while Chuba Akpom remained as an unused substitute for that game, rather than be introduced in the second half.
Although Branco van den Boomen scored in the first leg, the midfielder may have to make do with a spot among the replacements.
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haug; Wembangomo, Moe, Lode, Bjorkan; Gronbaek, Berg, Saltnes; Sorli, Evjen, Hauge
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Gooijer, Sutalo, Rensch, Hato; Berghuis, Taylor, Henderson, Forbs; Brobbey, Akpom
We say: Bodo/Glimt 2-3 Ajax (Ajax to win 5-4 on aggregate)
There will surely be goals in this contest, we should cannot predict with any great certainty where they shall go. That said, for all of their vulnerabilities in defence, we would be surprised if Ajax do not showcase their superior attacking quality to edge through.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
