Ajax vs Roma Europa League preview: where to watch, team news, predictions

Ajax face Roma in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg on 8 April at 21:00 CET.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

Form guide

Ajax
Form: WWWWWW
Latest: Heerenveen 1-2 Ajax, 04/04
Where they stand: 1st in Eredivisie

Roma
Form: DLWLWW
Latest: Sassuolo 2-2 Roma, 03/04
Where they stand: 7th in Serie A

Possible line-ups

Ajax: Scherpen; Timber, Álvarez, Martínez, Tagliafico; Gravenberch, Klaassen, Rensch; Neres, Tadić, Antony

Roma: Pau López; Mancini, Cristante, Ibañez; Bruno Peres, Villar, Veretout, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Pedro; Džeko

Expert predictions

Derek Brookman, Ajax reporter: Ajax struggled against Serie A opponents in the UEFA Champions League group stage, taking only one point out of six from Atalanta. But they have since rediscovered their European swagger, winning home and away against both LOSC and Young Boys, so will be confident of extending their run against Roma.

Vieri Capretta, Roma reporter: Having scored at least two goals in all of their UEFA Europa League knockout games this season, Roma will be confident of getting at least one crucial away goal. Paulo Fonseca's side play an attacking brand of football, with the right mix of quality and physicality, and if they stay balanced they can return from Amsterdam with a positive result.

View from the camps

Erik ten Hag, Ajax coach: "[Roma] are an attractive side. They not only want to win games, like any team, but they also want to do it in a certain way with very attractive play. I expect a very attractive game on Thursday, but of course you never know with Italian sides. Atalanta also played played more defensively [when they won 1-0 at Ajax in the group stage]. We have to be prepared for that too."

Paulo Fonseca, Roma coach: "Ajax are a very strong team: among the best in the Europa League. They have a good European project and a very difficult match awaits us. They are [one of] the most established football schools in Europe, but we have our chances. Now we must study them well. I think it will be a close game."