Ajax vs Valencia
UEFA Champions League – Matchday 6
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam)
UEFA Champions League – Matchday 6
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam)
Match Preview
Top section on 10 points, Ajax will head into Tuesday's match knowing that a draw would be enough for them to book their place in the next round of competition. That said, the Dutch giants will also qualify with a defeat if Chelsea fail to overcome Lille in the section's other match.
Ajax have won three, drawn one and lost one of their five group-stage matches this term, with their only dropped points coming against Chelsea. Indeed, they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to the Blues before claiming a point in a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of last month.
A 2-0 win at Lille on 27 November was a great result for the Erik ten Hag, who made the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before losing to Tottenham Hotspur in a spectacular way.
Unbelievably, Ajax has actually lost six of their eight home games against La Liga opposition, even though they drew 1-1 with Valencia as Los Che last visited Amsterdam for the 2002-03 competition.
actually ten Hag side will enter this match on the back of a 2-0 home loss to Willem II in the league on Friday night, despite the strong start to the 2019-20 campaign has left them top of the Eredivisie
Valencia will book their place in the next round of the competition if they beat Ajax on Tuesday evening, or to give them finished at least level on points with third-placed Chelsea.
English giants entering their clash with Lille knowing that a win will be enough to advance, in the meantime, which means that it is very much a three-way battle to secure the two qualifying places in Group H.
Los Che made the perfect start to their group-stage campaign as they recorded a 1-0 victory at Chelsea, but they have drawn two of their last three in the competition, including 2-2 at home to Chelsea last time.
The Spanish giants have not really reached the last-16 stage of the Champions League since 2012-13, but they have a history in the competition has made the finals in both 2000 and 2001.
Moreover, Valencia have lost just two of their last 13 games against Dutch opposition, while they will enter this game on the back of winning La Liga in a row, including an impressive 4-2 success away to Levante on Saturday night.
Team News
Ajax
Daley Blind and Joel Veltman returns from suspension and both will start against Valencia on Tuesday.
20 years Noa Lang scored a hat-trick in a full league debut for Ajax at the start of the month but was taken before the hour mark in Friday's shock 2-0 home defeat of Willem II.
With Quincy Promes and Zakaria Labyad both doubt and David Neres absent, Ajax front-line may look a little different to the usual on Tuesday.
Dusan Tadic may have to play out wide to cover for the absence of his team-mates, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar to play in front of.
Sergino Dest or Noussair Mazraoui will play at right-back against Valencia.
Valencia
Ezequiel Garay was suspended for the final group match Valencia after taking third booking in the competition last time against Chelsea.
Jasper Cillessen coming from injury after 27 minutes in Saturday's game away to Levante and is expected to miss here for Los Che.
Valencia has a number of injury problems ahead of their trip to Amsterdam and could end up being without eight players.
Mouctar Diakhaby recovered from injury and displays on the bench at the weekend to hand over the Spanish team a boost.
Kevin Gameiro scored at the weekend to hand Albert Celades selection headache in attack.
Ajax Valencia: Predictions
Dutch champions are set to host the Los Ches in the final round of Group H UEFA Champions League.
With 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat and fifth on goal difference, Ajax topping the ladder, remove two points from Chelsea and Valencia. semifinalists last season will earn qualification to the knockout stages if they avoid defeat on Tuesday.
Despite their league loss to Willem II (0-2) on Friday, the first in nine months, Ajax still lead the way in the Eredivisie with a record of win-draw-loss impressive 12-2-1.
'Sons of the Gods' has 10 wins and two defeats at home in all competitions, an average of 3 goals per game, while conceding 0.58 per tie. They have beaten Lille (3-0) and lost to Chelsea (0-1) in their home Champions League matches.
Valencia has logged 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in the competition. They will advance as group winners should they win on Tuesday. Another result would put them in danger as fourth-placed Lille has nothing to play for at Stamford Bridge.
There are currently 7th in the league standings, the man Albert Celades' coming into this match on the back of a 4-2 comeback win over local rivals - Levante. Los Ches in fine form with five wins from their last seven events in all competitions.
The Spanish club has four wins, two draws and four losses on their travels this season, scoring 1.40 per game and 1.60 shipping. They won 1-0 in London before sharing the spoils (1-1) with Lille.
Back in October, Ajax crush Valencia at the Mestalla with goals from Ziyech promissory notes and van der Beek. That's for a slightly open with a combined 27 shots between the two teams, but only one did goals.
We are in for an entertaining game with a lot of chances on both sides.
Guests will depend on Lille to pull a surprise and they are expected to be in attack mode from the get-go. As a result, their defense will be exposed. I'm sure the bag Ajax at least two goals here.
Ajax vs Valencia: Betting Tips
Ajax scored over 1.5 goals @ 1.50
Over 2.5 & Both teams to score - Ya @ 1.80.
