Ajax v Rangers
07 September 1745hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick Ajax AH-1
Bookmaker bet365
Odds: 1.68 odds taken 0751 GMT, Tuesday 6th September
Wednesday evening features action from Matchday 1 of this season’s Champions League group stage with Ajax taking on Rangers in Group A at the Johan Cruijff Arena with the Dutch hosts going in search of a sixth win on the trot in all competitions.
Table of Contents
Ajax Preview – Can Ajax continue impressive run?
Dutch champions, Ajax, bring an impressive winning momentum into this opening Group A match against Scottish visitors, Rangers, as the hosts have accumulated five wins on the trot in their domestic Eredivisie, and no doubt Ajax will be looking to transfer their league form into the European stage on Wednesday night.
Wins against Fortuna Sittard, Groningen, Sparta Rotterdam, Utrecht and Cambuur have not only handed Ajax the perfect start to their Eredivisie campaign, but has also seen the hosts rack up a total of 16 goals in the process, so they’ll be confident of hitting the back of the net on Wednesday evening no doubt.
Recent results in the Champions League have also been steady as Ajax have suffered just the one defeat out of their last eight ties overall and having also registered six wins during this sequence, momentum and confidence seems to be fairly on Ajax’s side here.
The Dutch hosts have also won three of their last four home ties in this competition, recording victories over Besiktas 2-0, Borussia Dortmund 4-0 and a 4-2 win against Sporting Lisbon, and Ajax have also reached the knockout stage of this competition in three of the previous five seasons.
Manager, Alfred Schreuder, confirmed that left-back Owen Wijndal will miss Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury, while midfielder Mohamed Ihattaren remains sidelined because of fitness concerns.
Rangers Preview – Can ‘Gers recover from Old Firm rout?
Rangers will make their way to the Netherlands on Wednesday night looking to bounce back from their bitterly disappointing 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Old Firm rivals, Celtic, in the Scottish Premiership on the weekend, but the visitors’ task does not look an easy one as they face an Ajax outfit who have won their last five games on the trot.
Rangers had previously lost just once in their preceding nine games in all competitions and had recorded six wins in the process, while the Scottish visitors made steady progression through the early qualifying rounds of the Champions League to reach the group stage of this competition for the first time in 12 years.
Victories over Livingston, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and Ross County in the domestic Premiership have been complemented by wins in the qualifying rounds in the Champions League against Union St Gilloise 3-2 on aggregate and another Dutch club, PSV, with a hard fought 3-2 win on aggregate.
However, history appears to be against Rangers at this level as The ‘Gers have collected just one win out of their last 13 outings on their travels, which includes seven defeats and keeping just two clean sheets in the process, so this may not bode well for their visit to the Johan Cruijff Arena on Wednesday.
After suffering a knee injury the day before the Old Firm derby, Rangers manager, Van Bronckhorst said Tom Lawrence would miss a few weeks of action, while defensive trio, Davies, Souttar and Helander also remain sidelined along with forwards Roofe and Hagi.
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Ajax v Rangers
Key Facts – Ajax v Rangers Tip
- Ajax have suffered just the 1 defeat out of their last 8 CL ties overall
- Ajax have won 3 of their last 4 home ties in CL
- Rangers have collected just 1 win out of their last 13 away outings in CL
Ajax are enjoying an impressive winning streak while Rangers may still be shell-shocked from their defeat to Celtic on the weekend.
The best betting odds for Ajax v Rangers
Ajax to win: 1.45 at bet365
Draw: 4.75 at bet365
Rangers to win: 6.50 at bet365
