Thursday 13th August – 19:45 BST

🇪🇺 Conference League Qualifier ⚽

Shelbourne vs. Ajax

Whatever happens, this night will be remembered for Shelbourne. Ajax’s visit isn’t just a match; it’s a celebration of Irish football’s ambition, a reminder that even the smallest grounds can host the biggest dreams writes Will Burns.

The arrival of Ajax in Dublin has sparked a wave of excitement that the Shelbourne fans haven’t felt in years. The Amsterdammers, fresh from their 3–1 win in the first leg, will face the spirited Irish side determined to turn Tolka Park into a fortress.

Last week’s contest at the Johan Cruyff Arena saw Mika Godts, the Belgian winger at the centre of a rejected €45 million bid from PSG, torment Shelbourne’s defence, scoring early and setting up two more. Yet the night belonged to goalkeeper Eddie Beach, whose heroics kept the tie alive and gave the travelling 500 fans a moment to savour when Daniel Kelly’s late strike found the net.

Now, the stage shifts to Drumcondra. Only 4,343 supporters can squeeze into Tolka Park, with just 370 tickets for Ajax’s travelling contingent. The contrast couldn’t be sharper — from 51,000 in Amsterdam to a tight, old‑school ground where the fans are practically on the pitch. For Shelbourne, this is more than a match; it’s a statement that Irish football can host Europe’s elite on its own turf.

Shelbourne

Shelbourne will be without Alistair Coote and Jack Henry‑Francis for the Europa Conference League qualifier against Ajax. Both players were forced off at half-time in the recent defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic and won’t recover in time for Thursday’s match.

Despite the setbacks, manager John Russell says the squad is staying calm and sticking to a “next man in” mindset. He believes the group has enough depth to cope, pointing to players like Portuguese forward Rodrigo Freitas who impressed in the first leg in Amsterdam – even though he was dismissed for a double booking at the weekend in the 2-1 defeat to St. Patricks. Russell expects others to step forward again at Tolka Park as Shelbourne try to rise to the occasion against the Dutch giants.

Ajax

Ajax will travel to Ireland with a 23‑man squad, but Steven Berghuis has been left at home, missing the trip for personal reasons rather than injury. Defender Dies Janse, who has been out of the squad in recent weeks, returns to the group for the game in Dublin.

While Ko Itakura, Josip Šutalo, and Rayane Bounida are still absent due to injury. There are no major surprises in Míchel Sánchez’s selection, with  Mika Godts still included despite ongoing transfer speculation.

The opening game of the Eredivisie saw Ajax run out 2-0 winners on Sunday at Zwolle. The hosts held Ajax off until the 76th minute when Jorthy Mokio opened the scoring before Julian Brandt notched a second in injury time.

Analysis

Sunday’s 2–1 league loss to St Patrick’s didn’t offer much encouragement that Shelbourne are about to flip the script, but they did find the net again for the seventh time in the last eight games.

Shelbourne are known for their aggressive high press, and that approach could unsettle Ajax. Russell’s side like to swarm the ball early, closing passing lanes and forcing opponents into rushed decisions. When they press in numbers, they can disrupt build-up play and create turnovers in dangerous areas.

Ajax’s possession‑based style invites pressure, and if their midfield rotations aren’t sharp, the Irish may find moments to pounce. With the tighter pitch and the crowd right on top of the action, Shels’ intensity could push Ajax into mistakes, giving the home side a real chance to force errors and create openings.

For the Dutch giants, their defence can be breached like it was last week in the first leg. The 2-0 win against PEC Zwolle at the weekend was the first clean sheet in six games. They had to thank Marc ter Stegen, their new goalkeeper on loan from Barcelona, making two excellent saves.

The performance showed a team still learning its manager’s demands. One of Ajax’s biggest strengths is their tactical intent. Míchel wants a proactive, possession‑heavy approach, built on a midfield with three vertical layers. This structure is designed to give Ajax control through constant passing options and natural rotations. When it works, Ajax look fluid and dominant, able to dictate the rhythm of the match.

Their pressing game is another major asset. Ajax used a 4‑4‑2 diamond‑like shape to hunt the ball high up the pitch, with Davy Klaassen playing a crucial role. His ability to read transitions and manage the spaces between lines helped Ajax disrupt the opponent’s buildup and win the ball in dangerous areas. When the press clicks, Ajax can suffocate teams and create chances from turnovers, I see this happening throughout night at Tolka Park.

However, the weaknesses were just as visible. The squad still lacks standout individual quality in certain positions — the kind of players who can turn tactical advantages into decisive moments. This gap meant that, despite good build-up structures at the weekend, Ajax didn’t always convert their dominance into clear chances. The overall fluidity wasn’t where Míchel wants it to be.

Prediction

Last week I bottled backing Both Teams to Score in the first leg, and it’s a mistake I won’t make again. Ajax, whatever side they put out, will win the game, but Shelbourne to get on the scoresheet gives us a healthy price of 2.75 at Bet365.

⚽️ Ajax win/Both Teams to Score 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.75 at Bet365

If you joining me with this selection, good luck.

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TotalDutchFootball.com

Tuesday 11th August – 18:30 BST

🇪🇺 Champions League Qualifier ⚽

NEC vs. Olympiakos

Goffertstadion is set for a huge night on Tuesday as Champions League preliminary‑round debutants NEC host Greek giants Olympiakos in the second leg of their third‑qualifying‑round tie.

With a place in the playoff against Union Saint‑Gilloise or Bodø/Glimt on the line, last week’s balanced first leg in Piraeus has left everything finely poised. Both sides arrive out of form, adding an extra layer of tension to a matchup that could easily turn nervy as the stakes rise but I think NEC can prevail on Tuesday evening writes Will Burns.

NEC Nijmegen

NEC have opened the season in unexpectedly subdued fashion. Their solid draw in Piraeus was a bright spot, but Saturday’s Eredivisie opener brought them back down to earth: a 2–1 home defeat to Telstar, a team that only narrowly avoided relegation last season.

Counting pre‑season, NEC are now winless in four, with three defeats in that stretch — and five losses in their last nine if you include tune‑up matches. More concerning is their sudden struggle in front of goal. Schreuder’s team have either failed to score or managed just once in each of their last four outings: a 1–0 loss to Elfsborg, the draw with Olympiacos, and 2–1 defeats to Sevilla and Telstar.

The hosts received good news ahead of the return match against Olympiakos Piraeus. Darko Nejasmic (Croatian CB) and Tobias Storm (Danish RB/CB) are fit enough to play. Bram Nuytinck (36-year-old CB) will take a seat on the bench, and Philippe Sandler (CB) also appears to be fit in time.

A question mark hung particularly over Nejasmic’s name after the first Eredivisie match of this season. The Croatian was substituted at half-time during the match against Telstar (1-2 defeat) due to discomfort. Coach Dick Schreuder announced on Monday at the press conference ahead of the Champions League third qualifying round match that Nejasmic has recovered. Nuytinck injured his ankle during pre-season and was already included in NEC’s European squad in the hope that he could get some playing time in the return leg. That is the case.

Olympiakos

Getting past Olympiakos will be anything but straightforward. Despite their poor pre‑season and a shaky start to 2026–27, the Greek side still possess plenty of quality — they’re simply not performing to their level at the moment.

Like NEC, José Luis Mendilibar’s team are winless in four, but their form is even more concerning. Olympiakos failed to score in three of those matches and arrive in Nijmegen after a run of games without victory against Ajax, Royal Antwerp, AZ Alkmaar and NEC. The 0–0 first leg only stopped a three‑match losing streak. A narrow 1–0 loss to Ajax was followed by heavy defeats to Antwerp (3–0) and AZ (3–2), with six goals conceded across those friendlies. Regardless of their unofficial status, entering European qualifiers without momentum is far from ideal for Mendilibar.

Ahead of the trip to the Netherlands, Mendilibar confirmed his squad — including the return of Santiago Hezze, who has recovered from injury. The Argentine midfielder will travel, but he is unlikely to start; his last appearance came on May 17 in a 1–1 draw with AEK Athens.

Italian centre‑back Lorenzo Pirola continues to attract interest from Serie A clubs, and it’s easy to see why. Since joining from Salernitana in July 2024, he has developed into arguably the league’s best defender. He came off the bench in the first leg and is expected to start on Tuesday.

Right‑back Manolis Saliakas, who returned to Olympiakos this summer after relegation with St. Pauli, struggled last week — losing three of four ground duels and four of six aerial duels. He could be a vulnerable point in the lineup.

The biggest threat remains 19‑year‑old Christos Mouzakitis, the league’s standout young talent. NEC struggled to contain him in Piraeus: he created the most chances (4), took the joint‑most shots (3), and completed the most passes on the pitch. Jamiro Monteiro will again be tasked with tracking him, but last week showed how difficult that assignment could be, committing three fouls on the youngster and fellow midfielder, 36-year-old Spaniard Dani Garcia.

Analysis

I tipped Both Teams to Score and an Olympiakos win last week, but the goals were nowhere to be seen despite a total of 24 shots, and 9 on target. The Greeks struggled to take control against an energetic NEC team, with Balsa Popovic producing several key saves (4) to keep the hosts level. NEC goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz was equally sharp (5 saves), denying efforts from David Carmo, Rodinei and Ayoub El Kaabi.

Olympiakos’ best early opening came in the 13th minute, when Crettaz pushed Carmo’s header from a Christos Mouzakitis corner around the post. El Kaabi also forced a strong stop before the interval. NEC did grow into the game after the half time break, threatening more consistently through Jamiro Monteiro, who twice tested Popovic from outside the box. Olympiakos, meanwhile, found it increasingly difficult to create clear chances.

After the match, José Luis Mendilibar acknowledged that his side had been surprised by NEC’s aggressive, front‑foot approach — a factor that now shapes the tension heading into the decisive second leg.

Prediction

Looking at recent form, both teams are struggling to find the net and NEC being at home here, I give them the slight advantage. I think we will see a 0-0, 1-1 or a 1-0 Nijmegen win. NEC with the Double Chance and Under 2.5 Goals is 2.26 at Paddy Power in a Bet Builder.

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TotalDutchFootball.com

Tues 4th August – 19:00 BST
UEFA Champions League
Olympiakos vs. N.E.C.

N.E.C. Nijmegen head into uncharted territory on Tuesday evening as they embark on the biggest adventure in their club’s history. For the first time ever, the Nijmegen side have reached the Champions League qualifiers, and their debut comes against one of Europe’s seasoned competitors.

Olympiakos are not only vastly experienced, with 374 European matches in their history, but also reached the first knockout round of last season’s Champions League. Backed by one of the most intimidating atmospheres on the continent, the Greek giants will look to their fortress, the Karaiskakis Stadium, as Dick Schreuder’s men arrive with aim to cause a shock writes Will Burns.

Olympiakos

The preparation heading into this one, has been far from perfect for coach José Luis Mendilibar and his side’s pre-season has been far from perfect. They began their warm-up programme with two wins and a draw, but momentum quickly evaporated as they slipped into three consecutive defeats — including losses to Eredivisie sides Ajax and AZ Alkmaar. The 3–2 defeat to AZ did end an 180‑minute goal drought so at least they have that to be thankful for.

The worrying thing for the Greek has been their obvious defensive fragility. Even in their victories over Rakow (2–1) and Fortuna Sittard (3–1), and the draw with Leuven (1–1), they leaked goals. They failed to keep a single clean sheet throughout pre-season, leaving their back line looking vulnerable ahead of the NEC visit. For a club with ambitions of returning to the Champions League group stage, this is a concern that cannot be ignored.

Last season, Olympiakos scraped through the group phase on the final match day at Ajax’s expense before falling to Bayer Leverkusen in the first knockout round. The expectation internally is clear: reaching the group stage again is the minimum requirement. This two‑legged tie marks the first step in that mission, and facing opponents with no prior experience at this level only heightens the pressure on the Greek side to deliver.

In terms of personnel, Olympiacos wrapped up their preparations knowing that Mendilibar will be without Santiago Esse, who remains sidelined through injury and did not train, while Lorenzo Scipioni has recovered and is available for selection.

Other absences from the squad is Giorgos Masouras. The Greek international, who had been expected to depart for Saudi Arabia, has not been registered for the qualifiers. Mendilibar had used Masouras as a central attacking option during pre‑season, and with Roman Yaremchuk, Mehdi Taremi and Clayton all omitted from the squad. Moroccan international Ayoub El Kaabi stands as the only recognised striker available for the opening leg.

NEC Nijmegen

It seems like an eternity when NEC’s celebrated a remarkable their best ever finish in third last season in the Eredivisie. Their pre-season results ahead of their European debut have been mixed at best. Schreuder’s side won just two of their seven warm-up matches, losing four, including back-to-back defeats to Elversberg and Sevilla. Their final test before travelling to Greece ended in disappointment at a sold-out Goffertstadion, highlighting the inconsistency that has lingered throughout the summer.

What has remained constant, however, is NEC’s attacking identity. Schreuder’s men conceded in all seven friendlies and scored in six, mirroring the high-risk equals high-reward style that defined their last years’ Eredivisie campaign. With 77 league goals, NEC were the second-most prolific side in the division behind PSV Eindhoven (101), but their 53 goals conceded were the highest among the top three — a stark contrast to PSV (45) and second place Feyenoord (44).

This blend of front-footed football and defensive openness was central to NEC’s historic rise, and there is little indication that Schreuder plans to abandon it now. Their pre-season performances suggest that the Nijmegen outfit will carry that same approach into the new campaign, likely guaranteeing entertainment — and opportunities — at both ends of the pitch in Piraeus.

NEC’s squad, however, is not at full strength. Vito van Crooij, Koki Ogawa, Perr Schuurs, Willum Thor Willumsson, Adam Tahaui and Yassin Moslih are either injured or not included in the squad for the first leg. Ogawa’s absence is particularly notable after his eight-goal Eredivisie season. Even so, NEC can still call upon the experienced duo of Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen, who combined for 21 league goals last term and remain key figures in Schreuder’s attacking setup.

During Monday’s press conference, Schreuder confirmed that starting centre‑back Philipp Sandler is fit to play on Tuesday. Sandler trained normally at the Faliraki Stadium and is expected to start. Schreuder also made clear that he did not attend any of Olympiacos’ pre‑season friendlies in the Netherlands, downplaying their relevance: “Friendlies mean nothing. When the real games begin, a team like this performs. That also depends on the coach. We know it’s going to be a difficult night.”

NEC were represented by Surinamese midfielder Tjaronn Chery, who famously scored in Maccabi Haifa’s 4–0 win over Olympiacos in Piraeus back in 2022. Chery spoke positively about the occasion: “It’s great to be playing in the Champions League qualifiers. We had a good season and we deserve to be here. Nervous? No, we’re looking forward to it. I’ve never suffered from anxiety, but everyone handles it differently.”

As reported by the Dutch media, around 1,300 supporters have travelled to Greece — eager to witness their club’s first European match in 17 years.

Analysis

So yes, both sides enter this tie with defensive concerns. Olympiakos have struggled to keep opponents out throughout pre-season, while NEC’s open, attacking style naturally leaves gaps that stronger sides can exploit. This combination points toward a match where chances should appear at both ends.

Olympiakos hold the clear advantage in European experience and will be buoyed by a home crowd known for its intensity. The Karaiskakis Stadium has long been one of Europe’s most hostile venues, and NEC’s players will be stepping into an environment unlike anything they have faced before.

NEC’s absences further tilt the balance toward the hosts, but Schreuder’s side have shown repeatedly that they can score against stronger opposition. Their unpredictability, both positive and negative, makes them a dangerous opponent in early qualifying rounds, where rhythm and sharpness are often still developing.

Prediction

Olympiakos go into the first leg as deserved favourites, backed by their European pedigree, home advantage and the expectation that comes with playing in one of the continent’s most intimidating stadiums. NEC, however, carry enough attacking threat — and Olympiakos have shown enough defensive vulnerability — to suggest this tie could be far more competitive than the gap in experience implies. A high‑tempo, open contest feels likely, with chances at both ends.

Both Teams to Score with an Olympiakos win looks an excellent angle at 3.25 with Bet365, and it’s the outcome that makes the most sense based on both sides’ profiles. From NEC’s perspective, keeping the scoreline to something manageable — a 2–1 or even a 3–2 — would give them a genuine opportunity to turn the tie around back in Nijmegen next week.

⚽️ BET: Olympiakos to win & Both Teams to Score
💷 1pt
Best Odds: 3.25 at Bet365

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