AJAX v PAOK
Tuesday 26th July 2016 – Kickoff: 2045hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League Betting Tips
Ajax not only suffered last-day disappointment at the end of last season’s Dutch Eredivisie when they narrowly lost out to PSV for the domestic league title, but they now have to find their way through to the next stage of the Champions League when they face PAOK over two legs.
Ajax drew 1-1 away at De Graafschap on the final day of last season which handed the title to PSV, but Ajax have since played five warm-up games prior to this important Champions League tie and they recently beat Beziers away and drew 2-2 with Olympique Marseille.
Ajax’s last home win in this competition was a 4-0 victory over APOEL back in 2014 when they participated in the group stages and they’ve also beaten Barcelona and drawn with PSG in previous home matches at this level.
Visitors PAOK earned their place in the Champions League qualifiers courtesy of winning the domestic season’s play-off ‘mini league’ after the finish of the regular season, but they now face a difficult task of progressing further against Dutch side Ajax.
Interestingly, PAOK have never won a match in this competition as they’ve now endured eight matches without success which includes four defeats and four stalemates. Their away ‘record’ in the Champions League reads 0-3-1 3/4 following a 1-0 defeat at Maccabi Tel Aviv which was then followed by three consecutive draws at Ajax, Metalist and Schalke 04 – the latter two results being three years ago.
I’m backing the hosts to get this two-legged qualifier off to a good start at their Amsterdam Arena this evening.
Pick: Ajax to win @ 1.73 Ladbrokes
