Ajax vs Chelsea Predictions

Ajax’s stunning run to the Champions League semi finals last season was the stuff of dreams for the former European heavyweights, but many expected this success to be short lived once the current powerhouses of the continent came calling.

Barcelona and Juventus moved on two of their stars, prising Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt away from Amsterdam and leaving many to think that Ajax would struggle without them. It’s still early in the season, but there doesn’t seem to be any sign of Ajax slowing down.

Indeed, they have thrashed both Lille and Valencia 3-0 in the Champions League group stages and are yet to lose a competitive match this season. They find themselves atop both the Eredivisie table and Champions League Group H. Wednesday marks the perfect opportunity for Erik ten Hag’s men to really stamp their authority on this group.

Chelsea haven’t had quite the same success in Europe so far, with a dismal 1-0 loss at home to Valencia getting their Champions League campaign off on the wrong foot. They did, however, recover with a hard fought 2-1 win at Lille earlier this month, and Frank Lampard’s side are enjoying a fantastic run of form.

The Blues managed a narrow win over Newcastle on Saturday, extending their winning streak to five matches on the bounce. This good form has extended to their away record too, although there are still some lingering doubts under the surface.

Mainly, their defensive record on the road is nothing short of abysmal. They have conceded 10 goals in their five competitive away games this season, including a 4-0 thrashing at Old Trafford in August. On Wednesday they face an Ajax side that haven’t lost a competitive game since the start of May, with 15 wins and four draws being played out since then.

The hosts’ home form is even more devastating. They have won eight competitive home games in a row and eight of their 12 home Champions League games since the start of last season. Chelsea may be in good form, but odds for an Ajax win look excellent value for money.

We are expecting Chelsea to get on the scoresheet though. They have found the net in all but one of their away games this season, but with an average goals conceded per game of two, we think a 2-1 correct score prediction is the way to go.