Benfica vs Ajax Predictions

• Ajax are unbeaten away from home in over 14 months and have won 12 of their 14 trips this season.
• Ajax won all six Champions League group games.
• Benfica have scored in ten consecutive matches.
• Sebastian Haller has scored 28 goals in 27 appearances for Ajax this season, including six in his last four.

Benfica struggle to maintain form

Benfica managed to shock Champions League Group E as they qualified for the knockout rounds ahead of mainstays Barcelona but that was largely down to Blaugrana’s deficiencies rather than anything spectacular about the Portuguese outfit.

The Eagles were in decent shape towards the end of the group campaign but they have dropped off the boil since then and a clash with one of the most in-form sides in Europe will not be high on their wishlist.

Ajax winning streak continues

Ajax became the latest in a short line of teams to win all six of their Champions League group games and it’s no surprise to see them as firm favourites for this tie, especially given the form they are in right now.

Their 1-0 win at Willem II at the weekend made it ten competitive wins on the bounce and they have lost just three games all season which, incredibly, all came at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

de Godenzonen flourish on the road

Away from home, de Godenzonen haven’t lost since December 2020 and they have won 12 of their 14 competitive trips this season, so I’m definitely backing them to take a first-leg lead against a Benfica outfit that have only won five of their last 11 in all competitions.

However, I’m not expecting Ajax to have it all their own way. Benfica may be in shaky form but they have still managed to score in each of their last ten matches, while Ajax conceded in all three Champions League away games in the group stages. This makes Ajax to win and both teams to score the standout bet on Wednesday.

Two of Benfica’s last three home games have ended in 2-1 defeats and, with Ajax scoring at least two goals in all six group games, I’m backing a 2-1 correct score prediction here.

Back Haller to hit the net again

With 108 goals in 32 games this season Ajax’s attacking credentials are bordering on insanity and former West Ham striker Sebastian Haller has played a key role in that.

The 27-year-old has scored 28 goals in 27 appearances this season and leads the race for the Champions League Golden Boot with ten notches. He has netted six goals in his last four games and I’m backing him to continue in this rich vein of form on Wednesday.