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Ajax will host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Tuesday in a friendly. The hosts enjoyed a solid campaign last season, lifting their third straight Eredivisie title under present Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. They picked up 83 points from 34 games and also made it to the KNVB Beker final and last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
The Dutch giants are undergoing a restructuring with the appointment of manager Alfred Schreuder after an impressive six-month stint at Club Brugge and the arrival of five new signings. The midweek clash will mark their sixth and final preseason outing as they gear up for the upcoming campaign, which begins next month.
Shakhtar, meanwhile, saw their league campaign come to a grinding halt earlier this year due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. They sat atop the Ukrainian Premier League at the time of the break with 47 points from 18 games, two points above rivals Dynamo Kyiv. They were on the hunt for a fifth league title in six seasons.
The Miners have seen several players depart the club since the halt was declared. They have now kept the squad fit with friendlies since the start of the year, most recently playing out a 3-3 draw with Fortuna Sittard.
Ajax vs Shakhtar Donetsk Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The midweek game will mark the first meeting between Ajax and Shakhtar Donetsk.
- Ajax have faced just two Ukrainian opposition, while Shakhtar have locked horns with five teams from the Netherlands.
- The Amsterdam outfit scored 98 league goals last season, finishing as the most prolific club in the Dutch top flight for the fifth straight season.
- The Miners went without defeat in their nine away league outings before the season was suspended.
- Ajax picked up the most home points in the Eredivisie last season and also had the best offensive and defensive record on home turf.
Ajax vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
Ajax closed out their league campaign with just one defeat in the second half of the season. They have had mixed results in preseason but have lost just one of their five friendlies and will look to round off things with a win this week.
Shakhtar have not played a competitive game this year and are understandably rusty. They have won just two of their last seven friendlies and could lose here.
Prediction: Ajax 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk.
$1,000 Risk-Free Bet at FanDuel SB
Ajax vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Ajax.
Tip 2 - Both teams to score: YES (Both teams have found the back of the net in four of the Miners' last five games).
Tip 3 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (All but one of the hosts' last nine games have produced more than 2.5 goals).
