Chelsea vs Ajax
Stadium: Johan Cruyff Arena
Betting Odds: Chelsea 3.00; Draw 3.50 ; Ajax 2.30
Probability of Win: Chelsea 33%; Draw 26% ; Ajax 41%
Chelsea
Injury Concern: merson Palmieri (hamstring), Rüdiger (knee), Loftus-Cheek (achilles), Kanté (groin), Barkley (ankle), Christensen (hamstring)
Predicted XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori; James, Kovačić, Jorginho, Alonso; Willian, Abraham, Mount
Chelsea’s season started poorly under Lampard, with just two wins from their opening six Premier League games. However, they have since turned things around, winning their last three on the bounce in the competition. The Blues have also tightened up a little defensively, recording their first two clean sheets of the season in this winning run – although both came at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s recent good form has been enough to elevate them into fourth in the league, although fifth-placed Arsenal have a game in hand on them and are just two points behind. Lampard’s side started their Champions League campaign in stuttering fashion, however, slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia, who have had a mixed start of their own in La Liga.
Ajax
Injury Concern: None
Predicted XI: Onana; Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico; Martínez, Van de Beek, Álvarez; Ziyech, Tadić, Promes
Ajax have excellent season after their surprise run to the semi-finals of UEFA Champions League last season. Ajax have also started with a bang in Europe, recording back-to-back 3-0 victories in their first two encounters to surge to the summit of Group H.
