he 0-2 signed by Rasmussen – Mokio, with which Francesco Farioli's Ajax overcame Royale Union Saint Gilloise in the first leg of the playoffs, totally reflects the moment of the lancers and puts them in an excellent position for the return leg, to be played at home, at the Amsterdam Arena, where the team is even more performing. It is in fact mainly within the friendly walls that Ajax has built its current first place in the Eredivisie and a good part of the twelfth in the Europa League which was worth, in fact, the qualification for the playoffs. If for the Dutch, however, this partial finish line was a bit disappointing given the formidable start that actually left one to hypothesize a placement in the top eight, for Royale Union Saint Gilloise, on the contrary, the arrival in the Playoffs came after a truly performing second part of the European season which actually also followed a good path in the Jupiler League where the team is fully in contention for the title. The first leg, however, saw the Belgians a bit wasteful and the Dutch beautiful and surgical and has shifted all the predictions on the passage of the round to the Dutch side. The Royale Union Saint Gilloise in view of the return match will have the advantage of having fewer unavailabilities than Ajax but will have to outdo themselves away from home where, often (including the Europa League) they have not performed as well as at home while Ajax remains with many unavailabilities but boasts a truly large list of potential scorers.

Ajax's shape and key statistics

It's not just the latest 4-0 against Heracles in the league that tells us that Ajax is doing well, but it's the 5 consecutive victories of Farioli's boys, obtained with 12 goals scored and only 2 conceded, that trace a truly remarkable cross-section. Even in general, however, Ajax is at the top: first in the Eredivisie with 54 points in 22 games and above all with 10 victories and 1 draw in the 11 home matches.

Including the first leg, the path in the Europa League says 5 victories, only 1 draw and 3 defeats in 9 games with one of the most hermetic defenses: only 8 goals conceded.

Royale Union Saint Gilloise's shape and key statistics

2 defeats in the last 2 games, against Ajax and Mechelen, disturb and alert a team that, before these two matches, had won 7 of the previous 8. The first leg result will force the Belgians to seek an away win where, in the Europa League, the record has not been exceptional so far: 1 win and 3 defeats.

In the two aforementioned defeats, however, Royale Union Saint Gilloise, despite scoring 0 goals, shot 13 times on target, without ever hitting the target.

Ajax vs Royale Union Saint Gilloise Prediction and Tactical Analysis

Ajax will arrive at the match with several absences, many of which, however, have already been assimilated by the lancers who seem to be doing really well. Both by attacking the match and by taking advantage of the counterattacks that Royale Union Saint Gilloise will be forced to abandon, Ajax's game could become even easier and thus pave the way for another victory. The Dutch team's home run is truly remarkable and the BetMines algorithm prediction takes this into account, suggesting the home team's victory.

• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Ajax – Royale Union Saint Gilloise predicts the 1 at 52%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Ajax – Royale Union Saint Gilloise predicts the X at 24%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Ajax – Royale Union Saint Gilloise predicts the 2 at 24%

Predicted lineups Ajax – Royale Union Saint Gilloise

Ajax (4-3-3): Pasveer; Gaaei, Rugani, Sutalo, Baas; Klaassen, Berghuis, Taylor; Traore, Brobbey, Edvardsen. Coach: Farioli.

Royale Union Saint Gilloise (4-3-3): Moris; Khalaili, Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Fuseini, Vanhoutte, Sadiki; Ivanovic, David, Niang. Coach: Meert.