Champions League: Is this Too Early for Ajax?

Bayern Munich vs Ajax

The big Champions League clash in Group E sees Bayern welcome Ajax to the Allianz Arena in a game which may turn out to be men against boys.

That’s no disrespect to Ajax, but Dutch football has been going through a period of transition, and the national team has often reflected the fortunes of their most famous club side. And while Erik ten Hag’s team is showing promise, Bayern are very much the Bundesliga finished article.

Both teams started with a win in Group E, and Ajax have high hopes of joining the German champions in qualification. However, they have a mammoth task in Munich this week. Bayern are one of the favourites in the Champions League 2018 betting markets as they sit fourth at odds of 7.50, only a little bit behind favourites Manchester City.

But there is a chink of light for Ajax as Bayern are suffering a rare, albeit minor, dip in form.

Talking Points

Bayern recently had a five-match winning streak halted by Augsburg, and it got worse at the beginning of the weekend when they lost to Hertha Berlin—in front of 75,000 fans—to allow BVB to take the top spot in the Bundesliga.

Although the champions have an injury list which includes Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso, they’ll still be wondering how they finished empty-handed at the weekend. They had 65 percent possession and 24 shots to Hertha’s six, but there’s only one statistic which really matters and that’s 0-2.

That’s encouraging for Ajax, but it could also be a real danger, as with a little pain to add to their undoubted talent, the Bundesliga champions could take their frustration on the next unfortunate eleven which comes into view.

Niko Kovac’s team had a comfortable start to their Champions League campaign, beating Benfica 2-0 with goals from the prolific Robert Lewandowski and Renato Sanches, returning to Germany after a disastrous season at Swansea.

And they will be after more blood on Wednesday.

It will be big Champions League 2018 news indeed if Ajax can spring a surprise in Munich. And they won’t be short in confidence after getting their European campaign to a fine start with a 3-0 home win over AEK Athens—with wing-back Nicolas Tagliafico scoring a brace and impressive young midfielder Donny van de Beek adding a third.

Ajax are trailing PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie by six points as the leaders have won seven in seven, but Ten Hag does have proven quality in his side to complement the youth. Dusan Tadic joined Ajax in an £11 million move from Premier League club Southampton in the summer, as did former Manchester United defender Daley Blind. Furthermore, in attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech, the Dutch team has a real livewire.

History

Both teams come into this match with five wins from seven, though Bayern’s two slip-ups have been their most recent games while Ajax arrive on back-to-back wins.

It has been 14 years since these two giants of European football met, for the only time in the Champions League, with Bayern coming out on top after a draw in Amsterdam and a convincing 4-0 home win.

Niko Kovac has taken over a team which has dominated on its home front and fought tenaciously in Europe. But Bayern won the last of its five Champions Leagues back in 2013, and their fans believe they are overdue another success.

Of course, Ajax have a rich tradition in European football, but we have to look a little further back to the early 1970s when they won three European Cups on the run, between 1971 and 1973, as the great Johan Cruyff burst onto the world scene. With four titles in total, they are just one behind their hosts…but maybe this year is a little early for Ten Hag’s team to challenge again.

Betting Tip

	Bayern Munich vs Ajax	Ajax Asian Handicap +2.00 @ 1.99
	October 03, 03:00 (GMT+8)

Ajax are at a massive 14.00 to win in Munich and we won’t go that far with our SBOBET predictions, but Bayern’s recent stuttering form will give the underdogs some hope.

If the Dutch can keep it tight in the first 20 minutes, then they can quiet the home crowd. But we know how ruthless the Germans can be when they get their noses in front.

There should be goals in this game with Over 3.50 at 1.94, and Under 3.50 at 1.96…so take your pick.

Can Ten Hag’s boys frustrate the Bundesliga champions? Only time will tell, but it will be a fascinating watch.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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