Villarreal vs Ajax Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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t has been a woeful European campaign for Villarreal as they play their final home game against a similarly underperforming Ajax side at El Madrigal.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Villarreal preview: Nothing to play for
Marcelino has led an extremely impressive domestic campaign for Villarreal as the Yellow Submarine cling onto the coattails of defending champions and league leaders Barcelona. They have underwhelmed in this competition, though, having already been eliminated with two games to spare, collecting just one point in six matches.
The hosts come into this one on the back of a frustrating defeat, though. The visitors were beaten 2-0 by Real Betis at La Cartuja with goals from Aitor Ruibal and Pablo Fornals sandwiching a red card picked up by Santi Comesana in the second-half of that clash in Seville.
Ajax preview: Poor Ajax
Dutch giants Ajax have majorly regressed in recent years and they have endured another tough campaign with Johnny Heitinga having been replaced already mid-way through this season. Fred Grim has returned to take charge of the Amsterdam giants on an interim basis at the Johann Cruyff Arena.
The visitors began their UEFA Champions League campaign with five successive defeats but a thrilling and unexpected 4-2 defeat of Azeri champions Qarabag in Baku last month has given them a slight chance of somehow squeezing themselves into the top 24 and the knockout playoff spots.
Villarreal team news: Gueye suspended
Ilias Akhomach has returned from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations alongside Senegal international midfielder Pape Gueye, but the latter is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Navarro, Foyth, Veiga, Alfonso; Buchanan, Parejo, Comesana, Moleiro; Gerard, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Kambwala (Injured), Costa (Injured), Gueye (Suspended), Cabanes (Injured)
Questionable:
Ajax team news: Attacking injuries
Ajax have a very average squad but their experienced attackers, such as winger Steven Berghuis and striker Wout Weghorst, are both sidelined through injury for the visitors.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Jaros; Gaaei, Bouwman, Itkura, Rosa; Klaassen, Regeer, Steur; Bounida, Dolberg, Godts
Unavailable: Berghuis (Injured), Weghorst (Injured)
Questionable:
Villarreal vs Ajax prediction
Despite that victory suggesting the potential turning of a corner for Ajax, they have since gone on to embarrass themselves further with a recent 6-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in the cup. Villarreal will rotate and Ajax are simply chaotic so both teams scoring may well be a good bet for this one between two teams with little to lose.
Villarreal vs Ajax Tip: Both teams to score
