Wednesday 7th November 2000hrs Benfica v Ajax Football – Europe – Champions League When the draw for the group stages was made and these two clubs found themselves in Group E alongside Bayern Munich, the expectation was that the Germans would cruise through top of the section and it would be one of these that would progress with the Bundesliga outfit. At the halfway stage it’s much closer than anticipated and Ajax particularly are making a really good fist of it – sitting at the top of the group. There may be only three games left for each side but that’s a huge amount of football in the context of this group. Continue reading below for a match preview of Benfica against Ajax with a best bet selected.
Benfica are perennial participants in the Champions League but they have something of a love-hate relationship with the competition. Their defeat to Ajax, in Amsterdam, last time out means they have now won only five of their last 26 away games in the group stage or knockout phase. It was the reason why they failed to qualify from their group 12 months ago and although they have managed to defeat AEK Athens on the road this campaign, could well prove to be their Achilles heel once again. Their home form has also been found wanting of late, over the last couple of seasons, and it could be that the continuous overhaul of their squad year on year is catching up with them. That has been further evidenced by their domestic form which has seen them fall to fifth in the Portuguese league, losing their last two games by two goal margins. It has increased the pressure on coach Rui Vitoria and makes Wednesday’s match at home to Ajax a must win if they are to salvage any hope of making it through the group stage.
Ajax spent big money in the summer for two purposes, firstly to wrestle the league title back from PSV and secondly to attempt to make an impression on the Champions League. Now well into the season and they are definitely achieving the second of those aims having qualified to the group stage with something to spare and now sitting pretty with a view to making the next stage. Seven points from their first three games in this group (gained by a comfortable defeat of AEK Athens at home, a deserved draw in Germany against Bayern and that narrow win against Benfica last time out) has them top of the section and within one win of progressing to the knockout phase. They will be in confident mood of being able to gain that win in Lisbon this week on the back of a six game winning run which has seen them score 18 goals and concede zero. Although it was the only game they dropped points in, in this group, their performance in Munich was probably their best thus far and they would have been frustrated not to have taken all three points with the chances they had. You sense that a repeat of that level of performance would be good enough on Wednesday.
Benfica v Ajax Betting Tip
It’s now getting to the stage for Benfica where they simply have to get points on the board in this section if they are to trouble Ajax and Bayern to finish in the top two but there is a lack of confidence around the Estadio da Luz at the moment and that will be what the visitors try to take advantage of it. It was a narrow victory for the Dutch outfit a fortnight ago but they had the best chances overall and have already shown with their performance and point in Munich that they have a maturity and discipline for getting results on their travels in the Champions League.
Benfica have lost to Basel and CSKA Moscow at home last season and have already been brushed aside by Bayern this season. What was once a really difficult venue for away teams to come and get a win is now proving to be the opposite and Ajax have the confidence and ability that will stand them in good stead to add to their host’s woes. I fully expect to see the Dutch team qualify for the next stage no matter the result on Wednesday but I can see them doing it in style by getting the win they need at the first time of asking.
Selection: Ajax 21/10 @ Betfair
