Ajax aim to complete rout of Shelbourne in Conference League return leg
Shelbourne host Ajax at Tolka Park on 13 August in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, looking to overturn a first-leg deficit against opponents who have not lost in five matches.
The two sides met on 6 August, when Ajax won 3-1, and the Dutch club arrive in Dublin having followed that result with continued winning form, taking five straight victories into the return fixture.
Form tells its own story
Shelbourne's recent record reads one win from five, with four defeats including last week's reverse against Ajax, leaving them needing a significant response simply to keep the tie alive.
Ajax, by contrast, arrive with the momentum of five consecutive wins and a two-goal cushion from the first leg, putting them in a strong position to progress to the next round.
What is at stake
A place in the following round of the Conference League is on the line, and Shelbourne's home advantage at Tolka Park offers their best chance of clawing back the deficit built in the first leg.
For Ajax, the task is to manage the aggregate lead and close out the tie without needless alarm, continuing a run of form that has yet to yield a single defeat in their last five outings.