The first leg at Johan Cruijff Arena was not to goal-fest many were predicting, ending in a rather drab goalless draw, but it was not a match without incident.

Both ended the night down to ten-men, with Ezri Konsa sent off in the 83rd minute, before Tristan Gooijer was dismissed three minutes later, meaning the pair will both sit out this winner takes all tie suspended.

Having drawn in Amsterdam, most would now make Aston Villa favourites to get through.

The Claret and Blue Army have won all four Europa Conference League home matches, scoring eight and conceding two, including a comeback 2-1 victory over Dutch opposition, namely AZ, in November.

So, led by four-times Europa League winning manager Unai Emery, Villa will believe they’re in a good position to reach a major European quarter-final for the first time since 1998.

Ajax, despite being on the cusp of the last eight, having only won three of 11 European matches this season, beating Ludogorets Razgrad in August, AEK Athens in December and Bodø/Glimt after extra time last month.

John van ‘t Schip’s side are currently fifth in the Eredivisie, only managing a 2-2 draw with Fortuna Sittard on Sunday, so a first two-legged victory over English opposition since 1974 against Stoke seems unlikely.

Back in October 2008, in a UEFA Cup group stage fixture, Aston Villa beat Ajax 2-1, Gareth Barry the match-winner, so will Villa Park witness another home win over the Dutch giants?

Aston Villa to win

1st selection

4/9

Both teams to score

2nd selection

8/11

Ollie Watkins to score anytime

3rd selection

1/1

At 16/5 a £10 bet would return £42

Aston Villa vs Ajax

16/5

Fiorentina vs Maccabi Haifa betting tips

The first leg in Budapest was a seven-goal thriller, with Fiorentina boasting a slender advantage that should see them through.

I Viola took a second minute lead a week ago through M’Bala Nzola, seemingly on course for a comfortable win, only for Abdoulaye Seck and Gadi Kinda to strike as Maccabi Haifa led at the break.

Then, against all odds, the Israeli side found themselves 3-1 ahead, Anan Khalaily the scorer, before Lucas Beltrán and Rolando Mandragora pulled it back to 3-3.

Just as a draw appeared set in stone, last season’s semi-final hero Antonín Barák poked home a 95th minute winner on a terrible pitch at Bozsik Aréna, sparking jubilation on one side and heartbreak on the other.

Back at Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Italian side are overwhelming favourites to progress.

Vincenzo Italiano’s team currently sit down in eighth in Serie A, but have become something a cup team under his guidance.

Last season, Fiorentina reached the finals of both this competition and the Coppa Italia, beaten by West Ham and Inter respectively, hoping to go one better in either, or both, this time round.

As for the Israeli champions, they’ve only ever reached the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition once, ousted by Lokomotiv Moskva in the last-ever Cup Winners’ Cup 25 years ago, unlikely to repeat this run now.

Lille vs Sturm Graz betting tips

Having claimed a commanding advantage at Liebenauer Stadium, LOSC Lille supporters can, almost, start planning for the quarter-finals.

Jonathan David bagged a brace a week ago, before Edon Zhegrova added a third as the French side took full control of this tie, thereby making this return leg a formality.

Les Dogues have never previously reached the quarter-finals of any UEFA competition, beaten in all five round of 16 ties in which they’ve featured.

Now though, Paulo Fonseca’s team appear to be one of the strongest sides left in the Europa Conference League, so could Lille get all the way to the final in Athens on 29 May?

A quick word on Sturm Graz, given that this in their best European run since 1984, but Christian Ilzer’s team will surely go no further; die Schwoazn have lost all three previous visits to France without scoring.

Lille cruised to victory in Austria, so are expected to achieve something similar back at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Club Brugge vs Molde betting tips

Following last Thursday’s first leg in Norway, it’s all the play for as these two teams reconvene in Belgium.

Halldor Stenevik fired Molde in front on the cusp of half time at Røkkeløkka, only for Maxim De Cuyper’s penalty a mere five minutes from time to, seemingly, snatch a draw.

Nevertheless, in the dying embers of injury time, Fredrik Gulbrandsen was on hand to restore his team’s lead, meaning 2-1 it finished, leaving this tie delicately poised.

Molde have been European regulars for over a quarter of a century, but this is just their second appearance in the round of 16 of any UEFA competition, dumped out the Europa League by Granada three years ago.

Nevertheless, having hammered Legia Warszawa in the last round, Erling Moe’s men are on the cusp of history, made all the more remarkable by the fact the new Eliteserien season doesn’t commence until April Fools’ Day.

Club Brugge though will fancy their chances of overturning that one-goal first leg deficit.

This time a year ago, the Blue-Blacks were competing in the last 16 of the Champions League, now aiming to get through to a major European quarter-final for the first time since 2015.

Ronny Deila’s team are unbeaten at home in the Europa Conference League, winning four of six matches, meaning the Belgian side probably kick off at Jan Breydelstadion as favourites to advance.

PAOK vs Dinamo Zagreb betting tips

GNK Dinamo Zagreb were able to make home advantage count in the first leg, but now PAOK will get the opportunity to respond.

A week ago, Bruno Petković bagged a brace at Stadion Maksimir, scoring once in each half, as the Croatian champions established a 2-0 first leg lead; will it prove to be enough?

Should they complete the job in Thessaloniki, Dinamo Zagreb would be through to the last eight of a UEFA competition for only the fifth time.

The Blues got to the semis of the Cup Winners’ Cup in ‘61, as well as the quarters of the same competition in both ‘65 and ‘70, while their sole last eight appearance since came in the Europa League three seasons ago.

Sergej Jakirović's team have lost three of their last five European away games this season, so cannot rest on their laurels ahead of this trip to Greece.

PAOK meantime are unbeaten at home in UEFA competition this season, winning four of six outings, claiming victories over Hajduk Split, Hearts, Eintracht Frankfurt and HJK, so will believe a turnaround is possible.

The White-Blacks did get to the quarter-finals of this very tournament just two seasons ago, so will Răzvan Lucescu’s overturn the current two-goal deficit at Toumba Stadium?

Fenerbahçe vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise betting tips

Most expected there to be very little between these two sides when the draw was made in Nyon, but that certainly was not how it panned out at Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

Fenerbahçe ran out 3-0 winners in Brussels, with Michy Batshuayi breaking the deadlock, before late goals from Jayden Oosterwolde, followed by a stoppage time Dušan Tadić penalty, secured an emphatic road victory.

So, to say the Süper Lig giants are in control of this tie would be a major understatment.

Fenerbahçe have only ever reached the quarter-finals of any UEFA competition three times previously.

They were dumped out the Cup Winners’ Cup by MTK Budapest in 1964 and the Champions League by Chelsea in 2008, before beating Lazio in the last eight of the Europa League five years later, ultimately ousted by Benfica in the semis back then.

Already this time round, İsmail Kartal’s team have played 13 Europa Conference League fixtures, winning 11 of them, with their adventure set to take them into the quarter-finals and, who knows, possibly beyond.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise meantime got to the last eight of the Europa League 12 months ago but, baring a remarkable turnaround, their campaign will come to an end in İstanbul.

Les Unionistes are through to a first Belgian Cup Final since 1914 and are top of the table, chasing a first top-flight title since 1935, and Alexander Blessin’s side will soon be able to focus on domestic matters.

Fenerbahçe will finish the job at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

Viktoria Plzeň vs Servette betting tips

These two sides played out a goalless draw at Stade de Genève a week ago, Servette on top throughout without ever finding the breakthrough, meaning it’s winner takes all in Czechia.

Having drawn on the road, most would now make Viktoria Plzeň favourites to advance.

The Czech side have become European regulars in the last decade or so, but have lost all three previous round of 16 ties in which they’ve featured.

Nevertheless, Miroslav Koubek’s side have won each of their last five Europa Conference League home games, scoring 12 and conceding none, so will certainly be hoping that this trend continues.

Servette meantime made their debut in a UEFA group stage earlier this season, before overcoming Ludogorets Razgrad in the previous round, courtesy of a 1-0 victory in Northeastern Bulgaria.

René Weiler’s team will therefore travel to Doosan Arena believing they can win on the road again, although we foresee Viktoria Plzeň making home advantage count.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Olympiacos betting tips

Last, but by no means least, following a quite astonishing victory in Piaraues, Maccabi Tel Aviv can already, almost, begin planning for the quarter-finals.

Against all odds and expectations, the Israeli side ran out 4-1 winners at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, with Eran Zahavi scoring twice, while Ido Shahar and Dor Peretz were also on target.

Never before have the Yellows reached the quarter-finals of any UEFA competition but, in-spite of the ongoing conflict back home, Robbie Keane’s team are on the cusp of making history.

On the flip side, Olympiacos’ decline continues, with José Luis Mendilibar’s team requiring a remarkable remontada to turn this around.

At the neutral venue of TSC Aréna in Bačka Topola, Serbia, Maccabi Tel Aviv should get the job done.