Ajax’ misfortunes continued on Thursday night when the Amsterdammers lost 2-0 away to Brighton in their Europa League tie. Ajax failed to register a single shot on target, compared with Brighton’s seven, two of which went home, the Uefa website reported.

It was the first match for Ajax under temporary Hedwiges Maduro, who took over from Maurice Steijn, sacked at the weekend after a disastrous start to the season.

Ajax are currently in 17th place in the Eredivisie with just two wins in 12 competitive games. After Thursday’s home loss, they are now bottom of the Europa League’s Group B with two points from three matches.

In the Conference League, AZ lost 1-4 to English side Aston Villa. The Alkmaar side are also bottom of their group with three points from three games.

Police had to use pepper spray to arrest 52 Aston Villa supporters at Alkmaar train station for rioting. None of the men had tickets for the game. On suspecting one of the men of carrying a knife, the group fled into a stationary train where drugs and balaclavas were later found. One man is still being held for incitement and insulting an officer, the rest was fined and sent home.