While the UEFA Europa League is only the second biggest international stage in European football, we had an absolute big-name match-up going on on Thursday in Ajax against Galatasaray.
Two of the biggest clubs in Europe facing off should always be an interesting matchup, but the situation before the game was not equal for both teams.
While Ajax are undoubtedly the biggest Dutch football club, they have struggled in recent years and lost their firm grasp on the Eredivisie.
This season, they are once again only the hunter.
They are currently second behind PSV Eindhoven and are trying to regain their glory days in their first season under young Italian manager Francesco Farioli.
Gala, on the other hand, is once again the dominant force in Turkish football.
After winning the Turkish Süper League in an incredibly dominant fashion last season, they currently lead the league again.
After 20 matchdays, they are still the only unbeaten team in Turkey, having won 17 of those games.
The implications for the game were rather simple.
With a win, Gala had a very good chance of qualifying for the top eight of the group stage and advancing directly to the round of 16, while Ajaxs chances of reaching the top eight were rather slim from the start.
In this post-match analysis and tactical analysis, we will take a look at how the teams shaped up, what tactics they used and how the game developed the way it did in the end.
Ajax Vs Galatasaray Formations & Players Used
In terms of formations, Ajax have gone back to their roots under Farioli this season and returned to the 4-3-3 formation that has shaped the identity of the club for many years since Cryuff implemented it.
In goal, captain Pasveer started the game with a back four consisting of Bass and Sutalo as the two centre-halves, Hato on the left side, and Gaaei on the right side in front of him.
In midfield, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was the lone holding midfielder, flanked by the two Ajax academy products, Kian Fitz-Jim and Taylor, who played as the central midfielders in Fariolis 1-2-shaped midfield.
In attack, youngster Mika Godts and returning Bertrand Traoré played on the wings, Traoré on the right and Godts on the left.
They were supposed to provide service for the lone striker, Brian Brobbery, in the centre of the attack.
Mika Godt had to be substituted early in the game, so Chuba Akpom was playing in that position for most of the game.
Gala and Okan Buruks captain also started the goal with Fernando Muslera playing the match.
In their 4-2-3-1 formation, Kutlu played left-back, Ayhan played on the right-defensive side, and Bardakci and Sánchez formed the centre-back pairing in the middle of the defensive line.
Their double pivot once again consisted of former Arsenal star Lucas Torreira and Gabriel Sara, with Toreira being the more defensive of the two midfielders.
In attacking midfield, Dries Mertens started as the number 10, with Yilmaz and Akgün playing to the right and left of him.
Up front, superstar signing Victor Osimhen was starting the game for Buruk and shouldering the hopes of a Top-8 finish for Gala.
Ajax Efficient Build-Up
In the club DNA of Ajax Amsterdam, the team wants to dominate possession of the ball and with their games in a suffocating way for their opponents.
However, Francesco Farioli is a coach who does not value possession as highly as other Ajax managers have in the past.
In this game, Ajax merely had 39% possession of the ball, which was obviously facilitated by their scoring the first goal early in the game and having a two-goal lead after just under an hour.
However, the team wasn’t too keen on really dominating possession in this game.
Ajax still had a very clear plan in their build-up play to progress the ball quickly and efficiently, shaping the first stage of the game on Thursday.
Here, we can see their basic structure while building up their play from the back.
Ajax are using a rather basic shape and keeping their 4-3-3 formation in these situations.
Goalkeeper Pas
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