2023/2024 EL Group B: Ajax - Marseille - Brighton - AEK Athens

[Dragonite]

Congratulations Brighton!


They defeated Ajax once again, this time in Netherlands.

Ajax must win its next two games to avoid being the worst ever Ajax in EL group stages. The worst was 2015/2016 with 7 points.

If it's any consolation, Ajax recovered very well from that lowest point, and in the following season immediately got its best ever EL campaign, reaching the final.

So perhaps the same will happen this time, they're at a very low point now, but they have the potential to improve a lot quickly, and perhaps in a few months they may be reaching a final once again.

Congratulations Marseille!

Can't Marseille win matches 11 vs 11 without penalty kicks?

They defeated AEK once again, this time without red cards or penalty kicks.

They already overwintered, something that they couldn't do last season.

They already collected as many points here in 4 games as in their previous two EL participations combined in 12 games!

And they're now in the longest undefeated streak in their EL history, 5 games (it started with a win against Lokomotiv Moskva in December 2021).

[Phocea]

Congratulations Marseille!

Can't Marseille win matches 11 vs 11 without penalty kicks?

They defeated AEK once again, this time without red cards or penalty kicks.

They already overwintered, something that they couldn't do last season.

They already collected as many points here in 4 games as in their previous two EL participations combined in 12 games!

And they're now in the longest undefeated streak in their EL history, 5 games (it started with a win against Lokomotiv Moskva in December 2021).

I don't know if I should be relieved or absolutely ashamed and terrified by these stats lol

[Dragonite]

I don't know if I should be relieved or absolutely ashamed and terrified by these stats lol

I think you should be happy. Everyone here except me and og2002gr was predicting Marseille to be eliminated in this group. And it looks like they will qualify.

[bugylibicska]

To win the group:

Marseille, Brighton 2.37
Ajax 6.00
AEK Athens 9.00

Ajax are in the last chance saloon, must win against Brighton in Amsterdam, good luck. After the next round we'll know more, 2 crucial games coming up. Still anything is possible.

Group winner:

Marseille 1.80
Brighton 1.91
Ajax 34.00
AEK Athens 201.00

Ajax almost certainly are out, even 2 wins might not be enough. AEK probably fight for 3rd place with Ajax, though they still have chances on paper. Marseille and Brighton will make it, bar a disaster.

Group winner:

Brighton 1.67
Marseille 2.10

Brighton - Marseille - Brighton must beat Marseille to finish top, Ajax - AEK - Ajax must win for 3rd place.

[Dragonite]

Congratulations Marseille and Brighton!



They're both qualified to the EL KO stages, and now they'll fight for the first spot. Marseille must avoid defeat to keep it, while Brighton must win to get it.

This can also be a battle for the EL top scorer between Aubameyang and João Pedro.

How many penalty kicks is Brighton entitled to?

João Pedro is already the EL top scorer with 3. At this rate he's going to catch Falcao in the EL all-time top scorers list soon!

João Penaldro had another penalty kick...

But it's actually Aubameyang that is almost catching Falcao. He's only 1 goal away.

More important than the fight for the first place will be the fight for the third place between Ajax and AEK Athens. AEK Athens must avoid defeat to keep it, while Ajax must win to get it.

For AEK Athens, not finishing last placed here, and eliminating the great Ajax, would be a huge achievement. For Ajax, even finishing third placed here is humiliating. Yes, it's a second chance in the new year and in the easiest level, but if the best that Ajax can do here is 5 points, I don't see how they're going to succeed against 5 Conference League opponents.

[Firnen]

Prediction

1. Brighton
2. Ajax
3. Marseille
4. AEK

I got 1st and 4th, but Ajax was so bad that they never came close to challenging for 2nd.

[Dragonite]

Congratulations Brighton for winning the group!


And congratulations Ajax for getting the third place!


They're still the worst ever Ajax in EL history. However, at least they interrupted their winless streak of 9 EL matches (biggest in their EL history) and losing streak of 3 EL matches (joint biggest in their EL history alongside other three: Spartak Moskva x2 and Manchester United 2011-2012, Steaua Bucharest and Salzburg x2 2013-2014, and Lyon, Manchester United and Getafe 2017-2020).

And they'll have a second chance in the Conference League.

I change my prediction here to:
1. Ajax
2. Marseille
3. Brighton
4. AEK Athens

I was right about Marseille second and AEK Athens last, but wrong about the rest.

[Polak]

Initial prediction

Ajax should able to finish top. They have a strong squad. I think Brighton, despite being debutants as Dragonite says, are good enough for 2nd. They should certainly be better than AEK and the very disappointing choke artists Marseille.

1. Ajax
2. Brighton
3. AEK
4. Marseille

Actual table

1. Brighton
2. Marseille
3. Ajax
4. AEK Athens

All wrong here although Brighton qualified for the knockout round as I predicted them to, although in 1st not 2nd. I also did not expect Ajax to go into such bad form, although they seem to be picking themselves up now.