Here are the key match facts and details about Ajax vs Lazio encounters, focusing mainly on their UEFA competitions.

TODAY'S PREDICTION

• Over 1.5

• Both Teams To Score - YES

• Ajax win or draw

• First team to score- Ajax

NB: You can place your bet through different betting setting sites such as: Betpawa, Sokabet, Sportybet etc.

1. UEFA Europa League 2020-21 (Round of 16)

The most recent competitive meeting between Ajax and Lazio took place during the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

First Leg:

• Date: March 11, 2021

• Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Result: Ajax 2–1 Lazio

  • Goals for Ajax:

    • David Neres (40')

    • Dusan Tadić (55')

  • Goal for Lazio:

    • Felipe Caicedo (38')

  • Key Fact: Ajax took a narrow 2–1 victory in the first leg at home. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Ajax were tested by Lazio’s counter-attacking play. Felipe Caicedo gave Lazio a brief lead, but Ajax quickly equalized and went ahead in the second half through Dusan Tadić.

  • Key Moment: David Neres scored a fantastic goal to put Ajax ahead before Tadić's second-half strike sealed the win.

Second Leg:

• Date: March 18, 2021

• Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy

• Result: Lazio 0–2 Ajax

  • Goals for Ajax:

    • Dusan Tadić (9')

    • Brian Brobbey (87')

  • Key Fact: Ajax secured a dominant 2-0 win in Rome to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory. Tadić gave Ajax the lead early in the match, and Brian Brobbey sealed the win late, continuing Ajax's impressive performance in the competition.

  • Key Moment: Lazio struggled to break down Ajax’s defense and were unable to capitalize on their possession, while Ajax’s counter-attacking play proved effective.

2. Head-to-Head Record in UEFA Competitions:

• Total Meetings: As of 2021, Ajax and Lazio have met a few times in UEFA competitions, with their most notable encounters being in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.

• Overall Record:

  • Ajax: 2 wins

  • Lazio: 0 wins

  • Draws: 0

Ajax won both of their meetings in the 2020-21 Europa League, finishing the Round of 16 with a 4-1 aggregate score.

3. Key Players in These Matches:

• Ajax:

  • Dusan Tadić: Scored in both legs of the 2020-21 Europa League tie and was key in Ajax's offensive play.

  • David Neres: Scored in the first leg and was a constant threat on the wing.

  • Edson Álvarez: Played a crucial role in Ajax's midfield, helping break up Lazio's attacks.

  • Andre Onana (Ajax’s goalkeeper at the time): Made key saves, especially in the second leg, maintaining a clean sheet in Rome.

• Lazio:

  • Ciro Immobile: Lazio's star forward, though he did not score in this encounter, was still a dangerous presence.

  • Felipe Caicedo: Scored Lazio’s only goal in the first leg, providing a brief spark for the team.

  • Luis Alberto: The Spanish playmaker was involved in much of Lazio’s creative play, but he couldn't help his side break down Ajax's defense.

4. Tactics and Style of Play:

• Ajax:

  • Ajax, under Erik ten Hag, played their signature attacking football, dominating possession and utilizing their youth talent to create chances. The team relied on their fluid attacking movement, with players like Tadić, Neres, and Antony playing key roles in the attack.

  • Ajax were also solid defensively, with Lisandro Martínez and Daley Blind anchoring the backline, supported by a strong midfield presence in Edson Álvarez.

• Lazio:

  • Lazio, coached by Simone Inzaghi during these matches, played a more pragmatic, counter-attacking style. They looked to exploit the pace of Ciro Immobile and Felipe Caicedo on the break, while Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinković-Savić tried to control the midfield.

  • Lazio's defensive struggles in the second leg allowed Ajax to capitalize on their speed and technical quality, leaving Lazio vulnerable on the counter.

5. Europa League Performance (2020-21):

• Ajax finished in 2nd place in Group D of the 2020-21 Europa League, behind Liverpool in the group standings but still progressing to the Round of 32. Their form in the knockout stages was strong, leading to their victory over Lazio.

• Lazio, on the other hand, finished in 3rd place in Group F of the 2020-21 Europa League, behind Celtic and Lille, and thus dropped down to the Europa League for the Round of 32. They faced Ajax in the Round of 16 but were eliminated after the 4-1 aggregate loss.

6. Conclusion:

• Ajax demonstrated superior attacking play and solid defensive organization to overcome Lazio in their 2020-21 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 encounter, winning both legs.

• Lazio struggled to break down Ajax's defense and could not match the intensity of Ajax's attacking game, particularly with key players like Tadić and Neres in top form.

• Ajax's victory propelled them further into the competition, though they were eventually eliminated in the Europa League quarterfinals by AS Roma.

This encounter was part of Ajax's strong run in European competitions during the 2020-21 season, highlighting their quality despite challenges in the knockout stages.