Schalke 04 vs. Ajax Preview
Where: Veltins-Arena – Gelsenkirchen, Germany
When: Thursday, April 20, 2017, 3:05 PM ET
Line: Schalke -120 vs. Ajax +275, draw +235; total 2.5 – view all Europa League lines
TV Broadcast: BT Sport 1
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Betting on Schalke (-120)
Schalke’s season is crumbling before their eyes. The Germans have won just three of their last 14 games in all competitions, including their 2-0 first-leg loss to Ajax. Schalke also lost 2-1 to Darmstadt over the weekend, although they sat a handful of their first-choice players in preparation for this crucial second leg.
Schalke will be without right-back Thilo Kehrer after picking up another yellow card in the first leg. The 29-year-old Coke, who has made just three appearances all season, could make his first-ever European start as a result. Two of their other first-choice defenders Benedikt Howedes and Sead Kolasinac are also injury doubts.
The one saving grace for the Germans will be their home form. Schalke are 8-3-4 at home in the Bundesliga this season, with 27 goals scored and just 13 conceded. They are also undefeated in five Europa League home games, although they have only drawn both home legs during the knockout stage.
Betting on Ajax (+275)
Ajax are potentially 90 minutes away from their first semifinal berth in European competition in a decade. Captain Davy Klaassen’s two goals gave the Dutch giants a 2-0 first-leg win to take into Germany. However, it really should’ve been more as they wasted opportunities to put the tie beyond doubt.
Ajax now have a potential trap game situation in the second leg with a pivotal league game against rivals PSV coming in midweek. The Dutch have won just once in their five Europa League away games this season (three draws, one loss) with their one loss coming in the round of 16 against Copenhagen. However, that’s the only loss Ajax have had in their last 14 Europa League matches.
Because of their two-goal advantage, Ajax can afford to lose by any one-goal margin, or even a two-goal margin if they can score at least one away goal. Their chances of getting that crucial away goal will be heightened by midfielder Lasse Schone’s return from suspension. Top scorer Kasper Dolberg (14 goals, 4 in the Europa League) is also back from a long layoff and had a goal and an assist on his return against Heerenveen over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Ajax’s defense has proven to be very capable of shutting opposing offenses down in Europe. They have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven games in the competition.
Writer’s Prediction
Schalke (-120) get the 2-1 win, but Ajax still go through 3-2 on aggregate.
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