Ajax looks like the clear favorite in this Conference League qualifier, and the quality of their opponents is crucial. The Dutch giants, despite being in a restructuring phase, maintain their European credentials, while Vojvodina is just beginning the season in Serbia and has already suffered some painful blows. In the first qualifying round, the Serbs lost 5-2 on aggregate to Ferencvaros, and in the league, they suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat at home to OFK Belgrade—clear signs of a defensive crisis and a lack of competitive spirit. Meanwhile, Vojvodina has conceded goals in every match, including friendlies against weaker opponents, which promises major problems against Ajax's attacking machine.
Ajax, on the other hand, are approaching the game in good spirits after a series of friendlies, where they beat Olympiacos (1-0) and AEK Larnaca (1-0), and also drew with Bochum (1-1). Their only defeat, to Panathinaikos (1-3), looks like an exception—the team experimented with their lineup in that match. A key factor is their head-to-head record: a year ago in this same tournament, Ajax confidently defeated Vojvodina twice (3-1 and 1-0), both victories coming away from home. The Dutch know how to penetrate the Serbian defense, and their individual attacking prowess is far superior.
