Europa League
2015-11-26 - Celtic v Ajax
Football: European Europa League
Thursday 26th November 2015 - Kick Off 8:05pm
Celtic
Glasgow Rangers have not been in the Scottish Premiership for a few years now which has basically meant Glasgow Celtic have been able to dominate proceedings domestically. That dominance has led to fans putting extra stock in the European competitions so being out of both the Champions League and Europa League before the turn of the calendar year is the last thing they would have expected.
It is going to be difficult for Celtic to get out of this Group having been beaten twice by Molde and that has left the side bottom of this section with just 2 points earned. Those defeats to Molde means Celtic can't catch them, but they are just 3 points behind Fenerbahce with a trip to Istanbul to come although that won't matter if they are beaten in this game or if Celtic fail to win and Fenerbahce win their game played at the same time.
Celtic have lost 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions, but that was a devastating 1-2 defeat to Molde in the Europa League and they had to settle for a goalless draw with Kilmarnock at home last weekend. The side have now won 2 of their last 6 home games in all competitions and Celtic have failed to win their last 4 home games in the Europa League, although they did win 3 straight here in the Champions League earlier in the season.
Ajax
All four of the teams in this Group had begun this season in the Champions League but failed to make it through the Qualifiers to reach the Group Stage of that competition. Even with those disappointments in mind, Ajax and Fenerbahce would have been expected to dominate the section, but Molde have surprised and that means one of the two 'big' names is going out.
The problem for Ajax has been their failure to turn draws into wins in the Group and that has left them in 3rd place with 3 points earned and that is 2 points fewer than Fenerbahce. Realistically, Ajax need to win both of their remaining games to have any chance of reaching the Knock Out Stage as they can't really rely on Fenerbahce losing twice having lost the head to to head against the Turkish side.
Ajax drew 1-1 in Molde before a late 1-0 defeat in Fenerbahce which is the difference between the two teams in the Group. They are unbeaten in 4 games in all competitions, but Ajax have put together their positive results at home and have actually won 1 of their last 4 away from home in all competitions and lost half of those games.
Head to Head
Ajax twice came from a goal behind to earn a 2-2 home draw with Celtic earlier in the Group.
Celtic hosted Ajax in the 2013/14 Champions League Group Stage and beat them 2-1 at Celtic Park. The Scottish Champions have won 2 of their 4 home games against Ajax and only been beaten once.
Prediction
This is a huge game for both Celtic and Ajax as they look to keep their Europa League dreams alive and the pressure would certainly be amped up on both teams if they hear news of Fenerbahce leading against an already qualified Molde team.
A draw doesn't do anything for either Celtic or Ajax so it is hard to imagine either team really sitting back and hoping things happen for them. The game between them earlier in the Group was an exciting one and all of Celtic's games in the Europa League this season have seen plenty of goals shared out.
That hasn't been the case for Ajax since the opening 2-2 draw with Celtic, but they have to get something here and will certainly pose some problems when going forward. Defensively they can be caught out at times and the fact that neither team is looking to draw this game should keep the intensity up throughout.
With the importance of earning the three points, gaps could certainly open up as this game is played and I like the chance of there being at least three goals for a fifth consecutive Celtic Europa League game.
The Pick :
Celtic 2-3 Ajax
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