AFC Ajax begins its European campaign in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. The Amsterdam side plays its first group stage match away against Croatian club Hajduk Split, kicking off at 18:45.
The match starts a busy period for Ajax, who currently sit fifth in the Eredivisie with 15 points from eight games. John van 't Schip's team faces FC Groningen in the league on Saturday, but the immediate focus is fully on Europe. The fixture in Split is the first official meeting between the two clubs.
Preparation for European football
Ajax travels to Croatia following a 1-1 home draw with NEC Nijmegen last Saturday. In that match, striker Tolu Arokodare opened the scoring after seven minutes before NEC equalised from the penalty spot. That result fits Ajax's recent form, having won two, drawn two, and lost one of their last five league matches. The attack has scored 22 goals over the first eight matchdays, providing confidence for the European trip.
With players like Steven Berghuis and Julian Brandt, Ajax possesses the creativity to handle difficult away fixtures. Brandt was on the scoresheet last month in the 2-2 draw against Excelsior.
Busy schedule for Dutch clubs
Ajax is one of six Dutch clubs in action in European competitions this week. Feyenoord, PSV, AZ, NEC, and FC Twente also play their matches, making it a unique week for Dutch football. "Six Dutch clubs at work in Europe this week," the sports editorial team said about the packed schedule.
For Ajax, participation in the Conference League is a chance to gain European experience and potentially end the season with a trophy. The journey begins Thursday at the packed Poljud Stadium. The full schedule for the coming weeks, including the match in Groningen, is on our fixtures page.
The team is led by manager John van 't Schip, who wants his side to grow in Europe. With top scorer Tolu Arokodare, who has four goals this season, he has a dangerous weapon up front. The defence, which has conceded ten goals so far, faces a new test in Croatia. Their league position, five points behind leaders Feyenoord, shows there is room for improvement. The complete league table can be followed via the standings page.
The trip to Split is the first of six group stage matches. A positive result would provide momentum for the important league match against Groningen just three days later. The squad departs for Croatia on Wednesday for final training sessions there.
The report in full is at AD Sport
