Brighton vs Ajax prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Europa League group-stage match

Two teams in search of their first UEFA Europa League win of the season meet on Matchday 3 of the competition at the Amex Stadium, where Ajax visit Brighton & Hove Albion in the Seagulls' second ever home match in Europe.

Hosting one of the most famous names in European football history represents another landmark for Albion, who were playing in the second tier of English football when the Amsterdammers reached the 2016/17 Europa League final and were struggling in the third tier while Ajax were winning the Champions League in 1994/95.

Ajax, though, are the team worrying about a potential relegation battle now. The 36-time Dutch champions have endured a miserable start to the season, making their two draws in Europe — 3-3 at home to Marseille and 1-1 at AEK Athens — a relative success.

Brighton are yet to find a convincing balance between their domestic and Europa League schedules, beginning with a surprise 3-2 defeat at home to AEK that failed to spoil the achievement of competing on the continent for the first time.

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Roberto De Zerbi's entertainers showed commendable spirit to recover from falling 2-0 behind in the 20th minute when they went to Marseille, replying through Pascal Gross's 54th-minute goal and a nerveless Joao Pedro penalty two minutes from time.

Steven Bergwijn was also spot-on for Ajax on the same night, putting them ahead in Athens to ultimately help them secure a second point of the group stage despite their opponents having 23 of the 33 goal attempts across the 90 minutes.

Brighton will be wary of their short odds after being heavy favourites to beat AEK, but the price is understandable for a top-half Premier League