TipResumen

STANDARD LIEGE

One club from Belgium have already secured a place in the Champions League Group Stage by winning the title last season, but it looks a tough task for Standard Liege to come through the League Route to make the financially rewarding Groups. They enter in the Third Qualifying Round, but face a team from neighbouring Netherlands in a tie where they won't be favourites to progress. The domestic League has begun for Standard Liege but any edge in fitness has been negated by the fact that their opponents have already played a couple of Champions League games. This is also a club that has missed out on European Football last season having been beaten in the Europa League in the Group Stage during the 2016/17 season. The side are unbeaten in their last 5 home European ties although Standard Liege have drawn the last 3 of those. Standard Liege have lost the Belgian Super Cup to Champions Club Brugge but that is the only loss they have suffered in their last 11 games in all competitions going back to last season. The side are now unbeaten in 21 home games in all competitions and Standard Liege have managed to win 13 of those games.



AJAX

It is a long road that Ajax have travelled since the days when they were considered one of the premier clubs in European Football and the 4 time European Cup winners have not won any silverware for four years. Four years have also passed since Ajax last played in the Champions League Group Stage and they have a tough path to tread to get back in with the elite of European Football. A comprehensive win over Sturm Graz in the Second Qualifying Round will have given Ajax some confidence and many will feel this is arguably an 'easier' tie for them to face in the Third Qualifying Round. Fifteen months ago Ajax were playing in the Europa League Final, but last season they were beaten in the Qualifiers in both the Champions League and Europa League. Ajax won 1-3 at Sturm Graz in the Second Qualifying Round Second Leg which snapped a run of 8 away European games without a victory. Prior to the win in Austria Ajax had lost 4 of 5 away European games over the last eighteen months. Ajax have now won 6 of their last 8 away games in all competitions going back to last season, although the exceptions have both ended in losses.



HEAD TO HEAD

Standard Liege and Ajax met in the 2016/17 Europa League Group Stage and the game in Belgium ended 1-1. That is their sole previous meeting in Liege in a competitive fixture.



PREDICTION

The draw for the Champions League Play Off Round means the winner of this tie will play either Slavia Prague or Dynamo Kiev for the place in the Group Stage of the competition. Both Standard Liege and Ajax have to feel they can earn that opportunity in this Third Qualifying Round tie although I am edging to the team from the Netherlands to get the better of their Belgian rivals over the two Legs. The First Leg looks to be a little tougher to call when you consider the poor Ajax away record in European competition in recent times. The win in Sturm Graz was a positive for Ajax, but Standard Liege have shown they are tough to beat in front of their own fans and I think they can be backed to avoid defeat. A draw wouldn't be the worst result for Ajax with the home Leg to come next week and that looks the most likely outcome of this fixture, but a narrow home win can't be completely ruled out so backing Standard Liege with the start to avoid defeat is the call.