Brighton v Ajax predictions, betting odds and tips: Seagulls can edge high-scoring contest

Where to watch Brighton v Ajax

TNT Sports 2, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

Brighton to win & both teams to score
2pts 7-5 bet365, Hills

Brighton v Ajax odds

Brighton 1-3
Ajax 7-1
Draw 5-1

Odds correct at time of publishing

Brighton v Ajax team news

Brighton
Danny Welbeck and Solly March were forced off with injuries in Brighton's 2-1 loss to Manchester City and will join long-term absentees Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan and Jakub Moder. March and Estupinan's injuries leave Roberto De Zerbi with an issue at left-back, although Tariq Lamptey is said to be nearing a return and he could deputise, as could James Milner, Igor or Jan Paul van Hecke.

Ajax
The visitors continue to be without their first-choice goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, as well as Steven Berghuis, Silvert Mannsverk and Ahmetcan Kaplan. Midfielder Silvano Vos is available after serving his one-match suspension following a second yellow card against Marseille.

Brighton v Ajax predictions

Ajax were minutes away from a first Champions League final since 1995 back in 2019. Fast-forward to 2023 and they find themselves occupying a relegation place in the Eredivisie and travelling to Brighton as the underdogs, facing a side who finished 17th in the Premier League in 2019. Football moves fast. 

The Seagulls have failed to land a victory in their maiden European adventure thus far, but have a great opportunity to do so at home against a side who are winless in their last nine matches.  

Ajax relieved manager Maurice Steijn of his duties on Monday following a 4-3 defeat to Utrecht and it seems unlikely that caretaker boss Hedwiges Maduro will be able to get a tune out of a team so low on confidence in a matter of days. 

The hosts have not been in their best form, failing to win in five games, but they have faced three of the top five in the Premier League in that run and should bounce back against a side whose last away victory came more than two months ago. 

However, they look unlikely to keep a clean sheet against Ajax as 11 of the Seagulls' 12 matches this term have seen both teams find the back of the net, and the same is true for five of the visitors' last six. 

Neither side has managed a clean sheet in Europe this season and that trend looks set to continue as Brighton land their first ever victory in European football. 

Key stat

Both teams have scored in 11 of Brighton's 12 matches this season

Probable teams

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Milner; Gross, Dahoud; Fati, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson
Subs: Verbruggen, McGill, Igor, Adingra, Gilmour, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Van Hecke, Lallana, Lamptey, Buonanotte

Ajax (4-3-3): Gorter; Rensch, Sutalo, Avila, Hato; Hlynsson, Tahirovic, Taylor; Forbs, Brobbey, Bergwijn
Subs: Pavseer, Sosa, Salah-Eddine, Ramaj, van Axel Dongen, Vos, Akpom, van den Boomen, Mikautadze, Gaaei, Medic

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