Preview: Ajax vs Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's pre-season friendly clash between Ajax and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ajax and Celtic are set to clash on Thursday in the Como Cup as part of their pre-season preparations, with the winner advancing to face the victor of the match between Como 1907 and Al-Ahli.

The Sons of the Gods are unbeaten in their four pre-season matches so far, while the Bhoys have won four and lost only one of their five friendly fixtures.

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Match preview

Ajax’s fortunes have taken a drastic downturn in recent seasons, falling from the glory of four straight Eredivisie titles from 2018-19 to 2021-22, to a disappointing fifth-placed finish in 2023-24 and a heartbreaking 2024-25 campaign.

Last season, under the management of Francesco Farioli, Ajax looked certain to lift the Eredivisie title once again as they held a significant nine point lead with just five games remaining. 

However, Ajax faltered in their final five fixtures, managing two defeats and two draws before a final-day victory - but that win proved too little, too late as PSV Eindhoven snatched the title with a two-point lead.

Farioli left the club soon after that heartbreak due to rising tensions over tactics, transfers and finances, with Johnny Heitinga since appointed to lead Ajax into the new campaign. 

The former Ajax youth academy product has enjoyed a productive pre-season, recording three wins and one draw from their four friendlies, including a 6-3 victory over Scottish Premiership opposition Hibernian. 

Now aiming to defeat another Scottish side and maintain their winning momentum - while also setting up a Como Cup final showdown with either Como or Al-Ahli - Ajax take on Celtic on Thursday. 

The Bhoys, unlike Ajax, have remained consistent in their domestic dominance, as Celtic enter the 2025-26 campaign looking to lift their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title and 14th in the last 15 seasons - having only missed out to Rangers in 2020-21. 

Brendan Rodgers's side also claimed the Scottish League Cup trophy last term, but the Bhoys were unable to record yet another domestic treble as Aberdeen won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Scottish FA Cup final.

Heading toward another season where Celtic are expected to assert their authority over their Scottish Premiership competitors, the Bhoys have enjoyed a productive pre-season. 

Celtic have won four and lost one of their five friendly fixtures, including particularly impressive wins over Sporting Lisbon (2-0) and Newcastle United (4-0) in their latest two outings. 

Looking to build on those wins and book their place in the Como Cup final, Celtic must overcome Ajax for for the first time since October 2013, having lost two and drawn one of their last three encounters.

Ajax form (friendlies):

Celtic form (friendlies):

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Team News

Ajax are anticipated to be without Josip Sutalo for this match, as the defender has been absent since their 1-1 draw with AGF on July 12 due to an injury, while Branco van den Boomen remains sidelined with a long-term issue. 

Heitinga has been experimenting with his team during pre-season but several players have been consistent starters, and Wout Weghorst, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Bertrand Traore, Owen Wijndal and Vitezslav Jaros are all expected to start once again.

As for Celtic, Jota will remain out of action for the foreseeable future with a cruciate ligament injury, while Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston have not joined up with the squad so far in pre-season and should not feature here.

A midfield three of Luke McCowan, Conor McGregor and Arne Engels impressed in the first 60 minutes of the win over Newcastle, and all three should start again on Thursday. 

Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, James Forrest and several others may come back into the starting 11 after playing just 30 minutes in that match.

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Jaros; Regeer, Bouwman, Baas, Wijndal; Berghuis, Mokio, Klaassen; Traore, Weghorst, Moro

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McCowan, McGregor, Engels; Forrest, Hyun-Jun, Maeda

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We say: Ajax 1-2 Celtic

 

Both of these teams have enjoyed superb pre-season campaigns thus far, but given Celtic's back-to-back wins over Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle United, we expect the Bhoys to continue their winning run against Ajax.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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