Ajax face Vojvodina with depleted defence and missing Baas

Ajax travel to Serbia on Thursday evening at 20:00 for the first leg of their Conference League second‑qualifying round against Vojvodina, but will do so without defender Youri Baas, who the Algemeen Dagblad reports is not fit enough to feature against the Serven.

The Algemeen Dagblad confirmed that Baas lacks the fitness required to play against the Serven, leaving the Dutch side short of a regular centre‑back. His absence follows a recent injury that kept him out of the preparatory friendly versus Olympiakos.

De Amsterdammers also kept Rayane Bounida, Dies Janse and Kian Fitz-Jim at home, deeming them unfit for the trip. Fitz was listed among those omitted, further shrinking the squad.

Baas missed the last training match against Olympiakos due to a lingering injury. Although he travelled to Servië with the squad, the club confirmed on match day that he remains unfit.

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With Janse and Baas sidelined, coach Míchel Weing faces a narrow selection for the back line. He is expected to field a centre‑back partnership of Aaron Bouwman and Daley Blind, blending experience with youthful vigor.

Ko Itakura and Josip Sutalo have not yet joined the squad following the World Cup. Their delay reinforces the likelihood that Bouwman and Blind will start together against Vojvodina.

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Ajax host the return leg a week later at the Johan Cruijff Arena, completing the two‑match tie. The encounter forms part of the Conference League’s second qualifying round.

The stark contrast between the injury‑hit roster and the reliance on a limited central pairing underscores the challenges Ajax must overcome to progress. Their performance will determine whether Ajax can maintain momentum in the European campaign.