Ajax Amsterdam vs SK Sturm Graz Preview

Ajax enter the Champions League in the second qualifying round as they look to get into the group stage for the first time in a while.

The former European Champions have been struggling to get into the group stage of Europe’s biggest competition recently, and even getting to the finals of the Europa League in 2017 hasn’t helped to restore their former glory.

They have allowed Justin Kluivert to join AS Roma after the son of their former player became unsettled and he will be missed very much, however, they have completed the re-signing of Daley Blind from Manchester United and that will add quality to their ranks.

Ajax have not won any of their last four games, losing two and drawing two.

Sturm Graz will look to become the latest team to stop Ajax from progressing to the Champions League group stage.

The Austrians have already started competitive football after they beat Siegendorf 2-0 away in the Austrian Cup on Saturday.

They played four friendlies before that cup match and three of those ended in wins for them against opponents including Middleborough and Copenhagen so confidence is high in their camp ahead of this match.

This is the first time these two teams will have met.

Results of each team’s last 5 matches across all leagues and competitions

Ajax Amsterdam

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
L	Walsall		2-0		Ajax Amsterdam	19 Jul, 2018	Friendly
D	Wolverhampton Wanderers		1-1		Ajax Amsterdam	19 Jul, 2018	Friendly
L	Ajax Amsterdam		1-3		Anderlecht	13 Jul, 2018	Friendly
D	Ajax Amsterdam		1-1		FCSB	7 Jul, 2018	Friendly
L	Ajax Amsterdam		1-3		FC Nordsjaelland	7 Jul, 2018	Friendly

SK Sturm Graz

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
D	SC Rheindorf Altach		0-0		SK Sturm Graz	27 May, 2018	Austrian Bundesliga
W	SK Sturm Graz		2-0		FC Admira Wacker Modling	20 May, 2018	Austrian Bundesliga
W	SK Sturm Graz		3-1		LASK Linz	12 May, 2018	Austrian Bundesliga
L	FC Salzburg		4-1		SK Sturm Graz	6 May, 2018	Austrian Bundesliga
W	SK Sturm Graz		4-2		Rapid Vienna	29 Apr, 2018	Austrian Bundesliga