Conference League
2026-08-06 - Ajax vs Shelbourne
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round First Leg
Thursday 6th August 2026 - Kick Off 7pm
Ajax
Another new manager has arrived to try and lift Ajax back into a more 'natural' position in Dutch Football after a very difficult 2025/26 season. They finished 5th in the standings a year after missing out on the title by a single point and that means Ajax have had to begin this season in the Second Qualifying Round of the Conference League with Michel the new man at the helm.
The four time European Champions finished thirty-two out of thirty-six teams in the Champions League Group Stage last season and Ajax have not played in the Quarter Final of any of the UEFA competitions since reaching that Round of the Europa League in 2021. If they can negotiate the next couple of Qualifying Rounds, Ajax will likely enter the Conference League as one of the favourites and the club began this European campaign with a convincing 8-2 win over Vojvodina in the Second Qualifying Round.
Ajax will begin the domestic campaign on Sunday, but will have played three European ties before that having won both Legs against Vojvodina by the same 4-1 scoreline. Home form was a bit of a disappointment for Ajax when concluding last season, but they have won 2 of the last 3 fixtures played here in all competitions.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has joined from Barcelona on a loan deal, while Ajax saw off some competition to sign Julian Brandt as a free agent. Both of those players should be involved in the squad as soon as Thursday.
Shelbourne
The English Premier League dominates the headlines in British and Irish Football, but that does not mean that others do not have dreams when entering European competition. The addition of the Conference League has certainly helped Irish clubs- both from the Republic and Northern Ireland- and playing Group Stage Football has become something achievable for those clubs with the right Qualifying Round draws.
After beating Kalju in the Second Qualifying Round, Shelbourne will be very aware of the size of the task facing them in the Third Qualifying Round. They beat Northern Ireland's Linfield twice in two different UEFA competitions last season and that meant Shelbourne were able to reach the League Phase of the Conference League where they finished thirty-fourth out of thirty-six teams. Matching that achievement would mean Shelbourne have recorded their biggest European result in the Third Qualifying Round.
Shelbourne are 5th in the League of Ireland standings and they should be as match fit as possible with 25 games played domestically through the summer. While they do have the third best away record in the League, Shelbourne have not won any of the last 5 on their travels in all competitions and have lost twice in a row. Last season, Shelbourne won an away European tie at Rijeka, but they were beaten 2-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the League Phase of the Conference League.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between these clubs.
Prediction
There is a huge gulf between Ajax and Shelbourne both when it comes to overall European pedigree and the squads that both can call upon in 2026/27.
Take nothing away from Shelbourne who are going to be so excited about this Third Qualifying Round tie, but it is going to take a huge upset for them to progress any further.
Ajax showed their qualities in the previous Round as they comfortably beat Vojvodina and the Dutch giants have the additions of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Julian Brandt to call upon.
Experience should ensure nothing is taken for granted even if there is the distraction of the Eredivisie beginning this weekend to take into account.
Despite that, Ajax are likely going to have Shelbourne under the cosh for the large majority of the ninety minutes to be played in Amsterdam. You would worry for Shelbourne if they do concede early and Ajax are likely to win this one by a slightly wider margin than AZ Alkmaar managed when hosting Shelbourne in the League Phase of this competition last year.
The Pick :
Ajax 4-0 Shelbourne
