Matchday 5 of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Real Sociedad (Spain) and Ajax (Netherlands) will take place on November 28 at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián. Real Sociedad vs. Ajax: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Matches – 13 (International matches, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 58;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 31%.
Predicted lineups for Real Sociedad vs. Ajax
Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Unai Marrero – Jon Aramburu, Javi Lopez, Igor Zubeldia, Nayef Aguerd – Sergio Gomez, Martin Zubimendi, Takefusa Kubo – Mikel Oyarzabal, Orri Oskarsson, Luka Sucic.
Ajax (4-3-3): Remko Pasveer – Jorrel Hato, Daniele Rugani, Anton Gaaei, Jorrel Hato – Kian Fitz-Jim, Branco van den Boomen, Kenneth Taylor – Bertrand Traore, Brian Brobbey, Mika Godts.
Each team has its starting lineup from their last match in this tournament.
Real Sociedad
The Spaniards are only in 25th place in the standings, two points behind the 16th position. After four rounds, the team has only one victory, which they achieved on neutral ground against Maccabi Tel Aviv (2-1). Besides that, they drew with Nice (1-1) and lost 1-2 to both Anderlecht and Viktoria Plzen. It's worth noting that Real Sociedad has only won once in their last seven Europa League matches (2 draws and 4 losses).
- In all four of the club's matches in this Europa League campaign, both teams scored, and exactly two or three goals were scored.
- The Spaniards have not scored more than one goal in 6 of their last 7 games in this tournament.
- The club has not won in the second half in their last seven matches in this European competition (5 draws and 2 losses).
Ajax
The Dutch team thrashed Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0 at home in the last round. This was their third big win in the Europa League group stage, and it was a clean sheet. They also had an away draw with Slavia (1-1). As a result, Ajax is in second place, two points behind the group leader Lazio. Additionally, the club has conceded the fewest goals in the main round of this tournament (only 1 goal).
- Ajax is unbeaten in six Europa League matches (5 wins and 1 draw).
- The club has not conceded in 6 of their last 8 matches in this European competition.
- One of the teams won with a clean sheet in the second half in the last seven matches of the Dutch team in this tournament.
Real Sociedad vs. Ajax: Match Prediction
I predict that Francesco Farioli's team will manage not to lose in the upcoming match. The Netherlands has good records in the Europa League and is among the group stage leaders for a reason. In the last 11 matches in this European competition, Ajax has lost only once in regular time, winning 9 matches and drawing 1. The club is also unbeaten away in the Europa League for five consecutive matches (4 wins and 1 draw). Furthermore, the team has scored in 12 of their last 13 away Europa League matches.
The San Sebastián team has failed to win at home in three consecutive home matches in this European competition (1 draw and 2 losses). It's also worth noting that this season the Spaniards have struggled at home in La Liga, winning only two of seven games (1 draw and 4 losses). Meanwhile, the Amsterdam team has lost only once in the Eredivisie after 12 rounds (9 wins and 2 draws).
My prediction – Ajax win or draw
