Ajax vs. Union Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups 

Ajax and Union Berlin resume their continental efforts on Thursday evening

when they square off in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie.

[{"selector":"#anim-b506ea74-ad65-4b99-b259-ae6b25878c97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7140289-f062-4ffe-86e2-c49d792e3e2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b586e73-1edd-4e31-b0c9-df69f53f5b36","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b57da2b4-5d68-413e-a69d-0128ad05c43e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.805074002829414%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Both clubs are currently competing for silverware in their respective leagues,

[{"selector":"#anim-1048809b-b19b-47fb-ae01-e48a543ac603","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e89f828-1725-42c9-bc5d-60ec30b63029","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d9fbae1-dc63-4e75-8e14-46af0f9416a3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a92fc35a-288c-4703-9431-15604b7f4bf9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-36.79023681711888%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

leaving it open to interpretation whether this competition is a distraction at this stage of the season.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7d82568-b143-4298-a7b2-944c485d345c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45db6b3f-6bea-443b-9792-be0860a7808f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0736cd5e-ee24-45c3-ba53-98dd0f5c5aa6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f59d2a53-3ca1-4050-a619-7ea19a1db2e3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-11.460951221794026%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Having posted four draws in five league fixtures

[{"selector":"#anim-945030c9-0996-45e8-ab32-eb78fe00a911","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4d4e192-1e39-45dc-b951-451326749735","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-145be31b-b641-4262-8bae-6472d12522be","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64d576fc-f907-4dfb-bcda-f7f652522123 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-13.1893381298856%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Ajax dropped off the pace in the Dutch top flight

[{"selector":"#anim-8050da63-d1c9-4dfa-88b2-5d72878f6660","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d462d896-aa25-4088-b3c8-ee3d5dc9263a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3172939-f200-47ae-9ef5-5bd668c93334","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afb3fc00-6895-4db5-b3c6-2380b9b4bb1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.132513277865637%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

but the introduction of Johnny Heitinga has instigated a change in fortunes.

[{"selector":"#anim-950ca9c9-dde1-42e7-8a72-a7b174c96494","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e6e5ee7-aa8c-4646-bd5b-7471280f1d1d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d86ac113-1ab8-4929-83d7-094fa777b678","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bd71ddc-d7eb-4f69-bd9b-82b057e0f7d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.6011903624162%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Since stepping up from Ajax's second-string

[{"selector":"#anim-c5631928-fac9-49f1-987f-712804da40bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fa46cfa-4ade-40e9-9da1-89afaa59d1d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f7f8794-7cde-4c72-995f-705643a6fc7e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9aee35a-878e-43f5-bc2b-362afce496c3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

the former defender has recorded four victories in succession

[{"selector":"#anim-19fa2762-ba2d-4b5b-8ef3-57625f5ca8f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-174f5a35-5c8a-4ab6-8308-c1da6dc65cf9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46a02aa4-c2cf-4e22-aca9-22b2b3de5184","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c5efb73-c022-4c25-ae1d-b936b0531fd4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-18.886426689843397%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

with 13 goals being netted during those quartet of fixtures.

[{"selector":"#anim-5cb6ac4a-ef80-4b52-87c9-6a8646ffd8f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53601567-0d5d-4667-9757-39850557a238","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15075026-9eec-45cb-a587-2602e4b184fd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd7bf05f-54e0-42e7-aaab-83f03c51c251 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.70955871254372%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Although Ajax have faced no team higher than fifth-placed FC Twente,

[{"selector":"#anim-fac9bbab-bdc7-4ed4-846d-1339582e68d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3911bd42-50c8-4138-941d-31af4c1039b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3d8ba9b-3305-4733-baf4-bc9f4692d367","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df159718-befe-4219-a2e2-8a3b4dcd6701 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-12.570075533580535%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]