By Can Erozden
Famous Dutch club Ajax are set to visit English opponents Aston Villa in a Thursday UEFA Europa Conference League last 16 decider following a goalless draw in the first leg in Amsterdam.
One of the notable European football teams, Ajax are not at their best this season in the Dutch Eredivisie. Their title hopes in the Netherlands have faded early. So, they should focus on their European campaign for the rest of the season.
Unai Emery's Aston Villa are among the top four clubs in the 2023-24 English Premier League. But the Villans, who are a high-profile team in the third-tier Europa Conference League, are also vying for the title.
The Ajax vs. Aston Villa tie has remained locked as the first leg at Johan Cruijff ArenA ended 0-0 on March 7.
The second leg at Birmingham's Villa Park will start at 2000GMT.
Ajax defender Tristan Gooijer and Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa are suspended for the second leg as both players were shown red cards in Amsterdam.
The winners will qualify for the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Türkiye's Fenerbahce, who are among the ambitious clubs eyeing the Europa Conference League title, secured a comfortable 3-0 win at Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels on March 7 to control this tie.
Edin Dzeko-led Fenerbahce will host Union Saint-Gilloise at Istanbul's Ulker Stadium on Thursday.
In addition to Dzeko, Fenerbahce have many big names in their squad such as ex-Ajax winger Dusan Tadic, former Manchester United midfielder Fred, and Belgium forward Michy Batshuayi.
Fenerbahce's Sebastian Szymanski, who is also a Poland attacking midfielder, is one of the integral parts of the Istanbul club to make an impact at the center of the park. Szymanski is known for his goalscoring skills.
Bosnian midfielder Rade Krunic, who was signed from AC Milan in January, cannot play for Fenerbahce in the second leg as he was suspended after getting booked in Brussels.
Turkish central defender Caglar Soyuncu, another Fenerbahce signing in January, is injured to miss the Union Saint-Gilloise match.
Soyuncu, who arrived from Spain's Atletico Madrid this winter, recently faced a thigh muscle injury.
The Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise game will kick off at 1745GMT.
The quarterfinal draw will be held on Friday.
- Thursday's fixtures:
Viktoria Plzen - Servette (0-0)
Fenerbahce - Union Saint-Gilloise (3-0)
PAOK - Dinamo Zagreb (0-2)
Fiorentina - Maccabi Haifa (4-3)
Aston Villa - Ajax (0-0)
Club Brugge - Molde (1-2)
Lille - Sturm Graz (3-0)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv - Olympiacos (4-1)