Ajax vs Olympiacos Predictions

• Ajax have won seven of their last nine games, including back-to-back Champions League wins
• Olympiacos have lost two of their three away trips in Europe this season
• The visitors have lost 49 of their 78 Champions League away trips

Ajax offer value at home

Olympiacos moved into the Champions League’s top 24 thanks to last week’s victory over Bayer Leverkusen, putting them on course to reach the next round. Their need for a victory has led to them being priced up as favourites in this visit to Amsterdam, but Ajax still have slim hopes of qualifying for the next round.

Ajax are 32nd in the standings, and they’re the lowest-placed side that still harbours hopes of making the next round. A lot would need to go right for them to jump up eight spots and qualify for the play-off round.

The hosts’ dismal start in Europe factors into their price, but it ignores the fact that they’ve turned a corner of late. The Dutch giants have won seven of their last nine, including two Champions League wins and a 2-0 victory over rivals Feyenoord.

Even if Ajax’s hopes of qualifying are slim, there’s €2.1million on offer for a victory, and moving up just one place in the table earns an extra €275,000. That means there’s €4million to €5million potentially on the line for the hosts, so they have little reason to write this game off.

A competitive Ajax side look well-priced at 2/1, as Olympiacos have lost three Champions League games, including two defeats in three away trips. The Greek side had just 28% of the ball against Leverkusen, losing the xG battle 1.13 to 2.58.

Ajax are going through a tough spell, but their recent form is promising. The visitors have lost 49 of 78 trips since the Champions League revamp in 1992, so it’s hard to side with them as favourites here.