Europa League: Manchester United vs Ajax Odds and Betting Preview

MANCHESTER, UK – After a fine result in Amsterdam last week, Manchester United will be looking to secure their passage into the Europa League’s last sixteen this Thursday evening as they host Dutch champions Ajax at Old Trafford. Despite being expected to rest several key players for the clash, United are the strong favourites for the clash with Bet365 offering an industry-best 4/11 (bet £11 to make £4 profit) on a home victory. Ajax are a 9/1 chance to win the match at Boylesports whilst the draw is a 4/1 shot at SkyBet.

Manchester United enter the second leg of their Europa League round of 32 clash with Ajax with a commanding advantage, after second half strikes from Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez in Amsterdam last Thursday saw the Premier League champions run out 2-0 winners.

That two-goal advantage should afford Sir Alex Ferguson the luxury of resting some of his key stars for this evening’s encounter and allow the Red Devils to field a mixture of young stars such as Paul Pogba, Ezekiel Fryers and Will Keane alongside more established players in need of playing time such as Nani, Ashley Young, Javier Hernandez, Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. In-form Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of the encounter with a sore throat.

After being heavily punished for their profligacy in the first leg, Ajax now face the considerable task of needing a two goal victory against the Premier League champions at Old Trafford to progress to the last sixteen of the competition. Frank De Boer’s side have been ravished with injuries throughout the campaign and will be without a string of first team players once again this evening including the likes of Nicolai Boelsen, Gregory Van Der Weil, Enyong Enoh and Kolbeinn Sightorsson.

In the correct score market, 2-0 to Man Utd is the favoured result at a best price of 6/1 with William Hill whilst 3-1 to the hosts is an 11/1 chance at Ladbrokes. Ajax are 22/1 with Coral to win the match by a goal to nil whilst 2-1 to the visitors is a 28/1 shot with Betfred. Boylesports offer 9/1 on the 1-1 draw whilst a goalless affair is a 14/1 chance at SkyBet.

In the Half-Time/Full-Time market, Man Utd are 10/11 with Bet365 to be leading at the interval and go on to claim the victory whilst Draw/Man Utd is a 7/2 chance with Betfred. Ajax/Ajax can be backed at a best price of 20/1 with Ladbrokes whilst Draw/Ajax is also a 20/1 chance with Bet365. Man Utd/Ajax is a 100/1 longshot in the market with Paddy Power.

In the First Goalscorer market, Mexican sharpshooter Javier Hernandez, who has scored in each of his last three appearances for the Red Devils, leads the way at a best price of 4/1 with Paddy Power. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov is a 5/1 chance to break the deadlock with Bet Victor whilst Ashley Young is an 8/1 shot in the market with Ladbrokes. Russian striker Dmitri Bulykin is rated as the visitor’s top chance in the market at a best price of 14/1 with Ladbrokes whilst Danish wonderkid Christian Eriksen is a 20/1 chance at William Hill.    

Man United are a best price of just 1/50 with Skybet to qualify for the next round and are a 4/1 chance for the competition with Paddy Power. Ajax are 20/1 at Bet365 to progress from the tie and are a 250/1 longshot for the competition at Paddy Power.

The Match Kicks off at 2005 GMT with live coverage on Channel Five.

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