Getty Images January 21, 2026, 12:26 AM

Ajax won a strong-willed victory over Villarreal and kept the mathematical chances for the playoffs (2:1)

In the first half, the game was equal both in terms of score and content. At the beginning of the second 45 minutes, Marcelino’s wards opened the scoring. Marin made a pass across the field towards the opponent’s goal, Oluwasei won the fight with the defender and sent the ball under the crossbar.

Ajax played back after the standard. Glukh made a pass to the opponent’s penalty area, but the ball did not touch anyone and flew into the goal net. The visitors took the lead for the first time in the last minute of regular time. Edwardsen completed a beautiful combination for his team.

As a result, Ajax, after a terrible start with 5 defeats, keeps the mathematical chances of getting into the top 24. Grim’s wards are currently in the 31st place, having 6 points to their credit. Villarreal, on the other hand, has officially lost any chance of going further: 35th place and 1 point in the asset.

Villarreal — Ajax 1:2
Goals: Oluwasei, 49 – Glukh, 61, Edwardsen, 90

Villarreal: Tenas — Mourinho, Marin, Veiga, Cardona — Pepe (Moreno, 72), Comesanha, Parti (Parejo, 74), Moleiro (Buchanan, 46) — Perez (Mikautadze, 72), Oluwasei

Ajax: Jarosz — Guy, Baumann, Bas, Weindal (Fitz-Jim, 84) — Klassen, Reger (Itakura, 54), Mokio (Bunida, 71) — Gluh (Edwardsen, 84), Dolberg (Johannes Maria Steer, 71), Godts

Warning: Mourinho, Party – Weindal, Baumann