Ajax will face Aston Villa in the eighth finals of the Conference League. That became clear this afternoon during the draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
With Villa, Ajax will meet one of the strongest teams it could have drawn on paper. Coach Unai Emery’s team is one of the surprises in the Premier League this season, where it is currently fourth.
Club Brugge, Fiorentina and Fenerbahçe were also among Ajax’s possible opponents prior to the draw.
AZ also had to deal with Aston Villa earlier in the season in the group stage of the Conference League. At home the Alkmaarders were defeated 1-4. In the later away game the team still took the lead, but that game was also ultimately lost. Villa finished at the top of the group, AZ came third.
Ajax skipped ahead to the next round yesterday. Away at FK Bodø/Glimt the score was 1-1 after 90 minutes of play. Because the home match had already ended in a draw, the teams had to go into extra time. Ajax moved in, miraculouslyultimately at the end of the day.