There are ties that feel settled and ties that still ask a few awkward questions. Ajax vs Sion has started to lean heavily toward the first category, but not enough to remove every layer of tension before Thursday’s return match at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Ajax’s 2-4 win in Switzerland gave them exactly the kind of first-leg advantage they needed: a comfortable scoreline, control of the aggregate picture and a clear path toward the league phase of the UEFA Conference League. They remain undefeated in the competition, and the early rounds have underlined why. Ajax began with an 8-2 aggregate win against Vojvodina, followed that with a 5-3 aggregate win against Shelbourne FC, and then produced another away victory against FC Sion.
That said, the route has not been flawless. The away leg against Shelbourne FC offered signs of vulnerability, and that matters because knockout football has a way of exposing any looseness once the margin narrows. Ajax have scored enough to stay in command, but the performances have not always suggested a team that can afford to drift. Their attack has been productive; their security has been less convincing.
Michel Sanchez added another layer to the story on the eve of Thursday’s game, confirming that Ajax will be without Daley Blind, Bounida and Carrizo. Sanchez said the match comes too soon for Blind, the same applies to Bounida and Carrizo, and he also made clear that Blind’s situation is still being assessed by the medical team. Bounida is training again but is not yet fully fit, while Carrizo has recovered from an ankle injury and is expected to resume training in the coming days.
That is where the first leg matters most. A 2-4 lead gives Ajax breathing room, but it also changes the nature of the return match. They do not need to force the game early, yet they cannot simply assume the tie will manage itself. Absences can matter more in a second leg, especially when the leading side is expected to control territory and tempo rather than chase the match.
Ajax are also doing this while managing squad and transfer issues, with the broader backdrop being a team trying to secure qualification without losing rhythm. Under €5 million or not, the price of one misstep in a European tie is rarely just tactical; it is often psychological too. That is why the numbers are useful here. An 8-2 aggregate start, then 5-3, then 2-4 away from home suggests a team that can score through pressure and momentum. It also suggests a team that still has to prove its defensive edge when the level rises.
For Ajax, Thursday is not about survival. It is about finishing the job without turning a strong position into an unnecessary conversation. The result in Switzerland made them favorites to advance. The return match will show whether they can close the door in the same composed way they opened it.
