Ajax face Rangers in the UEFA Champions League 2022-23 at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on Wednesday, September 7. The match will start at 10:15 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
Ajax sealed six wins on the bounce after a 4-0 victory at home against SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie 2022-23. The Amsterdam-based club are now unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions and have kept three clean sheets in a row. Ajax won all their six group stage matches in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League campaign, however, they suffered a 3-2 defeat on aggregate to SL Benfica in the round of 16.
Rangers have qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage this season after beating Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven in the qualifying rounds. It is Rangers’ first appearance in the group stage of this competition after the 2010-11 season when they finished third in the group and were demoted to the UEFA Europa League. In their last Scottish Premiership 2022-23 match, Rangers were beaten 4-0 by fellow title-contenders Celtic at Celtic Park.
Ajax vs Rangers UEFA Champions League 2022-23 odds
Parimatch odds: Ajax: 1.47, Rangers: 6.50, Draw: 5.00
Betwinner odds: Ajax: 1.44, Rangers: 6.45, Draw: 4.82
Betway odds: Ajax: 1.45, Rangers: 6.00, Draw: 5.00
10CRIC odds: Ajax: 1.48, Rangers: 5.98, Draw: 4.84
Note: Odds are subject to change. Please visit betting sites to check and confirm the latest odds.
Ajax vs Rangers head-to-head
Ajax have played Rangers only once, in a pre-season friendly in 2007, with the game ending 1-1.
The Amsterdam-based club have won their last five matches, while Rangers have won three of their last five in all competitions.
Ajax vs Rangers UEFA Champions League 2022-23 squads
Ajax: Remko Pasveer (goalkeeper), Maarten Stekelenburg (goalkeeper), Jurrien Timber, Calvin Bassey, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Lisandro Magallan, Kik Pierie, Owen Wijndal, Daley Blind, Youri Baas, Devyne Rensch, Edson Alvarez, Florian Grillitsch, Mohammed Kudus, Kenneth Taylor, Youri Regeer, Davy Klaassen, Steven Berghuis, Lucas Ocampos, Steven Bergwijn, Dusan Tadic (captain), Francisco Conceicao, Brian Brobbey, Lorenzo Lucca.
Rangers: Jon McLaughlin (goalkeeper), Allan McGregor (goalkeeper), James Tavernier (captain), Leon King, James Sands, Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara, Steven Davis, Stephen Kelly, John Lundstram, Antonio Colak, Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent, Kemar Roofe, Alfredo Morelos, Tom Lawrence.
Ajax vs Rangers probable starting lineups
Ajax: Remko Pasveer (goalkeeper), Devyne Rensch, Jurrien Timber, Calvin Bassey, Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen, Steven Berghuis, Edson Alvarez, Dusan Tadic (captain), Brian Brobbey, Steven Bergwijn.
Rangers: Jon McLaughlin (goalkeeper), James Tavernier (captain), Leon King, James Sands, Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara, Steven Davis, John Lundstram, Antonio Colak, Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent.
Ajax vs Rangers UEFA Champions League 2022-23 combined fantasy XI
Remko Pasveer (goalkeeper), James Tavernier, Jurrien Timber, Borna Barisic, Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen, Steven Berghuis, John Lundstram, Antonio Colak, Brian Brobbey, Steven Bergwijn (captain).
Ajax top picks and players to watch vs Rangers UEFA Champions League 2022-23
Brian Brobbey: Ajax’s 20-year-old striker has been in fine form at the start of the new Eredivisie season, scoring two goals and making two assists in five matches. Brobbey contributed seven goals and an assist in 11 matches last season for the Amsterdam-based club. His movement and use of physicality in the box will be difficult to handle for the Rangers’ defence.
Steven Bergwijn: The Dutch forward sealed a €31.3 million move from Tottenham Hotspur over the summer and has quickly settled into this Ajax side. Bergwijn has netted six goals in five matches in the league this season, including a hat-trick against FC Groningen on matchday 2.
Rangers top picks and players to watch vs Ajax UEFA Champions League 2022-23
Antonio Colak: Since his €2.1 million move from PAOK in the summer, the 28-year-old Croatian striker has smashed four goals in six Scottish Premiership matches. Colak featured in the UEFA Champions League last season wherein he averaged 0.8 key passes per game.
James Tavernier: The English right-back is one of the most attack-minded fullbacks in Europe. Tavernier has two goals and two assists this season, adding to his nine goals and 13 assists in the Scottish Premiership 2021-22 campaign. Tavernier is also the primary set-piece taker for the club and is very efficient off the penalty spot.
Ajax vs Rangers UEFA Champions League 2022-23 prediction
Ajax have a 100 per cent win record in the Eredivisie at the start of the season and have historically done well in the UEFA Champions League. The defending Eredivisie champions also have a better squad on paper and are expected to win considering their home record.
Rangers have struggled away from home in the UCL qualifiers this season and also recently suffered a heavy defeat away from home in the Scottish Premiership. The visitors will be the underdogs at the Johan Cruijff Arena.