Ajax vs Brighton predictions: Europa League tips and odds

Our betting expert has three Ajax vs Brighton tips for the Europa League Group B tie at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Thursday (kick-off, 5.45pm). Scroll down to see the analysis behind his selections.

Ajax vs Brighton betting tips

• Chuba Akpom to score any time @ 47/20 with BetMGM
• Bet builder – Both teams to score, Steven Bergwijn and Joao Pedro to have over 0.5 shots on target, James Milner to be carded @ 11/1 with BetMGM

Odds are correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

Already used the BetMGM sign-up offer? Check out all the latest bookmaker offers and the best betting sites.

Ajax to avenge Amex defeat

Brighton won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Amex Stadium but are likely to face a much sterner test in Amsterdam against an Ajax side who have looked solid under interim head coach John van ’t Schip.

Ajax were in disarray when they made the trip to the south coast of England a couple of weeks ago and the defeat there that left them bottom of Group B came as no surprise.

PSV then thumped the four-time European champions 5-2 three days later to leave them bottom of the Eredivisie, but the subsequent appointment of former Ajax winger van ’t Schip as interim boss until 2025 and he has had an instant impact.

Back-to-back home wins over Volendam and Heerenveen have lifted them to 11th and, despite being in poor form for much of the season, a victory here could take them as high as second in the group.

Brighton’s only win in their previous eight games came in the reverse fixture and they have failed to win any of their last five away games so our tip is for a home win in Amsterdam.

Ajax vs Brighton tip 1: Ajax to win @ 13/4 with BetMGM

Former Boro ace finding his feet

It hasn’t quite been the start to life in Amsterdam that Chuba Akpom dreamt of after his summer switch from Middlesbrough, but his form has improved since van ’t Schip was appointed.

The 28-year-old Englishman, who scored 28 Championship goals last season, has come off the bench in his last two appearances to net three times and he is in contention to start.

Akpom’s confidence in front of goal has been restored by the new boss and he will be itching to take on a Brighton side who haven’t kept a clean sheet in a competitive fixture on their travels since May.

Ajax vs Brighton tip 2: Chuba Akpom to score any time @ 47/20 with BetMGM

Goals a part of juicy bet builder

There is every chance both of these attack-minded sides will score. Ajax have failed to net in only one of their last five home games and have netted six in two matches under van ’t Schip, and the Seagulls are the joint fourth-highest scorers in the Premier League this season.

Steven Bergwijn has scored in both games under van ’t Schip and he should test Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, while Joao Pedro, who is the joint-top scorer in the competition with four goals, can do the same for the visitors.

Rounding off this bet builder is James Milner to be carded. The 37-year-old’s legs are not what they were and he has been asked to fill a variety of positions this season. The former Liverpool star has been booked twice in the league this term and a third caution could be coming his way.

Ajax vs Brighton tip 3: Bet builder – Both teams to score, Steven Bergwijn and Joao Pedro to have over 0.5 shots on target, James Milner to be carded @ 11/1 with BetMGM

Ajax vs Brighton odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.