Champions League: Ajax or Spurs…Who has the Nerve?

Ajax vs Tottenham Hotspur

All roads lead to the Netherlands this week when Spurs heads to the Amsterdam Arena to take on Ajax in the Champions League semi-final second leg.

The hosts have a one-goal lead, and that makes them favourites to reach the first final in over two decades. The good times are rolling back at Ajax, the best side in football in the seventies, and this current crop is 1.32 to advance to the final, with Spurs at 3.38 to overturn their first-half deficit.

And while Spurs had a bruising defeat to Bournemouth over the weekend the Dutch side had a weekend off. With two games to go in the Dutch Eredivisie Erik ten Hag’s team is in pole position, ahead of PSV Eindhoven on goal difference. But their full focus has been on Europe and Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.

The Champions League 2019 betting odds tell us that Barcelona are the overwhelming favourites to win the tournament, having hammered Liverpool 3-0, and with Leo Messi in such scintillating form who can argue with that? But whichever side can hold its nerve in Amsterdam on Wednesday, a real chance to win the tournament awaits.

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Talking Points

Ajax: The Fearlessness of Youth

This Ajax team has been the big Champions League 2019 news with its joie de vivre and the hunger to take on all comers. They have already beaten Real Madrid and Juventus, two of the pre-tournament favourites and are in a great position to see off Spurs.

The loyal Ajax fans can start to dream of a glittering final and a return to the days of Johann Cruyff, as this current group of young players roll back the years. 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt and 21-year-old Frenkie de Jong have been outstanding for Ajax this season, at home and in Europe, and they are bound to approach this next challenge without fear.

The 6 ft 2 central defender De Ligt shows maturity beyond his years, and he looks set to form a partnership in the national team with Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, which could soon be the best in the world.

Donny van de Beek’s early strike gave Ajax the crucial away goal and a first leg lead over Spurs. That was his third goal of the competition, and alongside De Jong and Lasse Schone, he completely dominated the Spurs midfield at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And if the Ajax midfield continues its fine form, then livewire striker Dusan Tadic will have every chance of adding to his six Champions League 2019 goals.

Donny van de Beek made the difference in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Tottenham Hotspur — Donny van de Beek scored the crucial away goal for Ajax during the first leg of the Champions League semifinals

Spurs: Has the Fear of Failure gone?

There are signs that Spurs may be losing their composure in the run in at the end of such a promising season, going down to nine men in the weekend defeat to Bournemouth. And when Chelsea was sweeping Watford aside on Sunday, the Blues fans taunted their Spurs counterparts, chanting; “Tottenham Hotspur…it’s happening again!” in reference to Spurs perceived tendency to choke at the final hurdle, most notably when Leicester City won the Premier League from under their noses back in 2016.

But Arsenal’s failure to beat Brighton has virtually assured Spurs of a top-four place, and that might take some of the pressure off the Whites on Wednesday. And, of course, Mauricio Pochettino’s team has the ability to fight hard when their backs are against the wall, stunning Manchester City to reach this semi-final.

Christian Eriksen possesses the visitors’ coolest head and the knack of scoring crucial goals in the big moments so Spurs fans will hope the Dane is on his game.

History

As four-time winners and twice runners up of Europe’s premier competition, Ajax has Champions League pedigree in spades. But Pochettino’s Spurs has been in the higher echelons of European football in recent years.

But the force seems to be with this young Dutch team which has pretty much dismantled Real Madrid and Juventus already in this competition.

Ajax hasn’t lost in the last nine games or in any of its last seven home matches.

Meanwhile, Spurs has suffered a crisis in confidence, losing five of its last six and the last five away matches in a row.

Betting Tip

	Ajax vs Tottenham Hotspur	Ajax Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.87
	May 09, 03:00 (GMT+8)

The latest odds right here at SBOBET have Ajax is 2.16 to win and Spurs at 3.20 with the draw at 3.40.

So this clash could easily go either way and while Spurs’ near qualification for next year’s Champions League has lifted a little pressure, the hosts come into the game in much better form and I’m backing them to finish the job on Wednesday.