Eredivisie giants Ajax will wrap up their pre-season with a friendly against UEFA Europa Conference League giants, Olympiacos on Friday afternoon.

While this match is a final tune-up for Ajax, it will be Olympiacos’ first of at least three friendlies with more against Mechelen and Italian giants AS Roma before their season starts.

Ajax Preparing for Europa League Challenge | Home Win = 2.25

Ajax, under new manager Francesco Farioli, have been active in pre-season as they prepare for the Europa League second qualifying round on July 25. The Dutch side has already played three friendlies this summer and will face Al-Wasl before taking on Olympiacos less than 24 hours later.

Their pre-season began with a narrow 1-0 loss to PEC Zwolle, but they bounced back impressively with a 4-0 victory over Sint-Truiden and a 2-1 win against Rangers. Ajax will aim to continue this positive momentum against Olympiacos as they gear up for their competitive matches. The Dutch giants will face Vojvodina in a two-legged tie, starting in Amsterdam on July 25.

Olympiacos Looking to Build on European Success | Away Win = 2.70

Olympiacos, fresh off their historic Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina, are gearing up for their new season. The Greek side, led by Jose Luis Mendilibar, will begin their league campaign in mid-August and have already secured a spot in the Europa League group stage, unlike their opponents.

Despite finishing third in the Greek Super League last season, Olympiacos have high ambitions for the upcoming season. They are set to play more friendlies, after this one against Ajax, as they prepare for their league opener against Volo NFC on August 16.

Key Players & Team News:

For Ajax, several key players are expected to feature in the friendly, including Kenneth Taylor and Jorrel Hato, who have shown good form in pre-season. Farioli will use this match to assess his squad and finalize his starting lineup for the upcoming Europa League qualifiers.

Olympiacos will rely on experienced players like Kostas Fortounis, who played a crucial role in their Europa Conference League win. Mendilibar will look to integrate new signings and give playing time to young talents as he prepares his team for the new season.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 3.40

There are no records of Ajax and Olympiacos having faced each other, making this friendly an interesting encounter for both sides. | Main Market: GG/NG (Yes) = 1.52

Ajax's recent form in pre-season has been promising winning the last 2 of 3 friendly games they’ve played, as they look to continue their winning streak. | Main Market: Double Chance (Home) = 1.38

Olympiacos, on the other hand, will be eager to test their squad against a strong European opponent after ending last season with 3 wins and a draw in their last 5 games including their European success. | Double Chance (Away) = 1.51

You can check out the Ajax vs Olympiacos Pre-season friendly on MSport here.

In a pre-season friendly at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday, July 16, Hearts and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in an exciting match as both teams prepare for their upcoming campaigns.

After a high-scoring practice match behind closed doors, Tottenham travels to Edinburgh to take on Hearts in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.

Hearts Looking to Bounce Back | Home Win = 5.80

Hearts, managed by Steven Naismith, will use this friendly to fine-tune their squad. They finished third in the Scottish Premiership last season, securing a spot in the Europa League qualifying rounds. Despite a solid league performance, their recent pre-season match saw them lose 2-1 to Leyton Orient, with Liam Boyce scoring their only goal.

This game against Tottenham provides an opportunity for Hearts to regain confidence and test themselves against a strong Premier League side. Naismith, who has been at the helm since April 2023, will look to guide his team through a successful pre-season and prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur Gearing Up for New Season | Away Win = 1.39

Under new manager Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur is looking to build momentum ahead of the new season. The team has been active, giving players valuable playing time and showcasing their attacking prowess in their pre-season preparations.

Spurs recently played a training match against Cambridge United, securing a 7-2 victory, which included a dominant 5-0 first half and a balanced 2-2 second half. This pre-season marks a fresh start for Postecoglou’s squad, who aim to improve on last season's performance.

Tottenham fell short in their bid for Champions League qualification but will compete in the Europa League. The upcoming friendly against Hearts will be crucial for Postecoglou to assess his players and refine tactics.

Key Players & Team News:

For Tottenham, several first-team players participated in their recent friendly against Cambridge United. Key players like Son Heung-min, James Maddison, and new signing Timo Werner, are expected to feature prominently as Postecoglou experiments with formations and strategies.

Hearts will rely on experienced players like Liam Boyce and Craig Gordon to lead the team. Naismith will also look to integrate new signings and young talents into the squad, ensuring a balanced and competitive team for the upcoming season.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.60

Hearts, despite their recent loss, have shown resilience and determination under Naismith’s leadership finishing 3rd in the Scottish League last season. | Main Market: GG/NG (Yes) = 1.58

Historically, Tottenham and Hearts have had limited encounters, with their last meeting occurring in the 2011-12 Europa League qualifiers. Tottenham emerged victorious with a 5-0 win in Scotland, followed by a goalless draw at White Hart Lane. | Main Market: Over 3.5 = 2.06

Tottenham's attacking capabilities were evident in their recent closed-door training friendly against Cambridge United, where they put seven goals past the League One club, who were only able to get two back. | Goals Market: Away O/U (Over 2.5) = 2.08

You can check out the Hearts vs Spurs international friendly game on MSport here.

The grand finale of Euro 2024 will take place at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday, July 12 when the La Rojas of Spain butt heads with England for the chance to lift the ultimate European international silverware.

If Spain lifts it, they will have lifted the prestigious continental trophy for the fourth time in their history, more than any other side while if the Three Lions of England lifts it, they will have finally brought it home for the very first time in the country’s history.

Spain's Chance to End Their 12-Year Pursuit of a Euros | Home Win = 2.60

Spain comes into this final aiming for their fourth European Championship title having last lifted the trophy in 2012, meaning they have had to wait 12 years to get the opportunity to do it again.

If they ever needed a reason to go into this final with everything they have, that up there is all the reason they would need. Spain has been in excellent form, winning all six of their matches in the tournament, including their 2-1 semi-final win against France.

Spain's excellent performances in the competition have all been leading up to this moment and if they show half the consistency and strong performance they’ve exhibited in this tournament, they would be a formidable opponent to England in the final.

England Could End Their 58 Years Wait to Bring it Home | Away Win = 3.50

English fans have been singing “It’s Coming Home” for 58 years since their last international major trophy, the 1966 FIFA World Cup, and on Sunday, they can finally bring it home.

However, to do that, they would have to replicate a lot of the good things they’ve done in this tournament, one of which is remarkable resilience, exemplified by the fact that they reached the final by coming from behind in each of their three knockout matches.

Despite not always being at their best, England remains unbeaten in Euro 2024, with three wins and three draws and Gareth Southgate's side will need to step up their game even more to challenge Spain, who have arguably been the best team in the competition.

Key Players and Team News:

In terms of team news, Spain is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support to striker Alvaro Morata while England might stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Bukayo Saka likely featuring as the right wing-back.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 2.94

Historically, the two teams have had mixed results against each other with both Spain and England winning 2 matches each and drawing one. | Specials Market: Home/Away & Under 1.5 = 2.07

Spain has been prolific in attack, scoring thirteen (13) goals, at a rate of 2.2 per game, while conceding only two (2) in their six (6) Euro 2024 games. | Specials Market: Home & Over 1.5 = 3.40

England, like Spain, is also unbeaten in the Euro 2024 competition, scoring seven goals in their six (6) games in the tournament. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Over 1.5 = 2.32

 

You can check out the Spain vs England Euro 2024 final game on MSport: