Ajax Vs Valencia
Tuesday 10th December 2019 – 20:00 (kick-off)
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Ajax to WIN
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Betfair
UEFA Champions League Betting with 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 8th December 2019 at 11:20)
Preview: A win for either of these sides would send them through to the next phase of the competition, although top of the group Ajax can also do so with a draw on Tuesday against Valencia who know only victory can guarantee them qualification.
Ajax Vs Valencia Live Stats & Betting Odds
Ajax Preview – Amsterdammers to atone for Friday’s shocker?
Victory in France on Matchday 5, recording a 2-0 scoreline against Lille through goals from Hakim Ziyech and Quincy Promes, means last season’s semi-finalists are in pole position to qualify out of this group. Ajax (1st – W3 D1 L1, GF12 GA5) are two points clear at the summit and know even a draw would see them through. Considering only one of their five encounters thus far would conclude with defeat, their chances of progressing appear healthy.
Qualification to the knockout phase looked a mere formality at one stage, though, opening their account in this tournament with successive 3-0 victories over Lille (H) and Valencia (A) before amassing just one point from a double header with Chelsea (L0-1 & 4-4). However, only Bayern Munich have notched more goals than them so far, while nobody has conjured up more assists (5) than influential wide-man Hakim Ziyech, the skilful Moroccon who also has a couple of sensational long-range goals to his name.
However Ziyech, among others, was powerless to prevent a rare defeat at the weekend as Ajax suffered a first loss of their league campaign in Netherlands’ Eredivisie. The league leaders had avoided losing their first fifteen matches (W13 D2) before a shock 2-0 reverse at home to then sixth-placed Willem II. Prior to that the club had managed to negotiate 36 consecutive league encounters as hosts without losing, winning on all but three occasions. Will a positive response be forthcoming from Erik ten Hag’s men?
Valencia Preview – Leaky defence to hamper Los Che progression?
A second bite at the cherry for Valencia (2nd – W2 D2 L1, GF8 GA7) who would have sealed qualification with a win over Chelsea last time out. In the end the spoils were shared after a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw that was end-to-end, full of attacking endeavour and was very nearly won at the death by the Spanish side. The point was not the end of the world either, enough to keep them second in the standings.
By virtue of them having the head-to-head edge, Valencia could progress even with a loss in this final encounter. So long as Chelsea do not secure more points, Los Che will be fine. Relying on that is a risky game though, and the simpler equation – in theory, that is – is that beating Ajax will guarantee them progression. Unfortunately this is unlikely be to be straightforward, up against a high-quality team which beat them emphatically in Spain 3-0.
The La Liga outfit have been adept travellers in this competition so far, though, winning in England against Chelsea (0-1) whilst also claiming a point at Lille (1-1). Perhaps the biggest surprise about those away efforts was less about the impressive points return and more the defence: one goal shipped in two away games is a very good return for a team that seemingly cannot defend – they’ve kept one clean sheet in thirteen games in all competitions – and continues to allow opponents to rack up huge xG figures.
Ajax Vs Valencia Key Facts:
- Ajax recently suffered their first home loss in the Netherlands Eredivisie for 36 matches (W33 D3), losing 2-0 at home to Willem II on Friday.
- Valencia warmed up for this pivotal encounter by beating local rivals Levante away from home on Saturday, winning 4-2 – the third occasion two goals were conceded in their previous four matches.
- These teams produced three goals in the reverse meeting over in Spain; all three were scored by Ajax however, who ran out convincing 3-0 winners.
Betting Summary
Ajax (4/6 Betfair) begun exceptionally well, winning their opening two encounters in this group 3-0 before only managing a point from clashes home and away with Chelsea. Yet victory in Lille last time out means they currently top the section needing only to avoid defeat here to qualify. Meanwhile, Valencia (4/1 Betway) have taken four points from two away fixtures but will want to forget the 3-0 scoreline inflicted on them by Ajax in Spain – a scoreline they could very well struggle to overturn in Holland.
Goals usually flow wherever Valencia go: 11 of their previous 12 matches have produced both teams scoring, which is a bet to have landed in each of the last three group games involving them. Factor in who they are playing here, which is a wonderfully talented and inventive Ajax side who have scored two or more in four of their five contests in this group, including when comfortably winning the reverse fixture 3-0. Therefore I quite like the prospect of some goals materialising in Amsterdam, with Ajax & Over 2.5 Goals an option (6/5 Coral).
