New format
The first phase of the main tournament of the second European competition consists of 36 teams this season. These teams will no longer be divided into groups, but will each play eight matches in the 'League Phase': four at home and four away against eight different teams.
Ajax will play at home against SS Lazio, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and away against Slavia Praha, Real Sociedad, Qarabağ FK and FC RFS. UEFA will announce the match schedule on Saturday.
The top eight on the ranking list will, after eight matchdays, advance directly to the last sixteen. Teams ranked nine through 24 will play knockout matches against each other to determine which eight teams will also qualify for the last sixteen. The teams ranked 25 through 36 will be eliminated from the European competition.
Qualifying rounds
Francesco Farioli's team reached the main tournament of the Europa League after eliminating FK Vojvodina, Panathinaikos, and Jagiellonia Białystok in the qualifying rounds.
History
Ajax most frequently faced the Turkish team Beşiktaş. In the previous six official encounters, Ajax won all six times. Slavia Prague was their opponent three times: one draw and two losses. Ajax faced Maccabi Tel-Aviv twice in official meetings, resulting in one victory and one loss.
Ajax has never played an official match against SS Lazio, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Qarabağ FK, or FC RFS. However, the Amsterdam-based team has encountered SS Lazio, Real Sociedad, and Galatasaray in friendly matches.
Before training, we asked the Ajax players which opponents they hoped for. Wout Weghorst, Chuba Akpom, and Branco van den Boomen got what they wanted.
