Ajax vs Chelsea
Champions League Group Stage - Matchday 3
Venue: Johan Cruyff ArenA
Date: Wednesday, 23rd October, 2019
Kick-off time: 8pm BST
Chelsea make the trip to Amsterdam to face last season's Champions League semi-finalists Ajax, looking for a result to avoid slipping off the pace in Group H.
Frank Lampard's side have a win and a defeat from their first two games, against Valencia and Lille, but a loss in the Dutch capital would leave them six points behind Ajax as the group stage reaches the halfway point.
The Eredivisie champions are yet to concede a goal in the Champions League this season, having won each of their first two games 3-0, and also sit top of their domestic league, unbeaten after 10 matches.
While star names Frenkie de Jong and Matthjis de Ligt left in the summer, the bulk of the squad that came so close to reaching last season's final remains in tact, including midfielder stars Donny van de Beek and Dusan Tadic, who were both named on the Ballon d'Or shortlist this week.
Prediction - Ajax 2-0 Chelsea
Both sides have won their last five games in all competitions, so should arrive full of confidence. However, Ajax know that victory will give them breathing space in the race to qualify for the last 16, and home advantage should see them prevail.
Team news and lineups
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi.
Subs: Caballero, Giroud, Pulisic, Batshuayi, James, Emerson, Gilmour
Ajax XI: Onana; Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Van de Beek, Martinez; Ziyech, Tadic, Promes
Subs: Varela, Schuurs, Neres, Huntelaar, Mazraoui, De Jong, Marin
Head to Head record (H2H)
The two sides have never met in a competitive fixture before. Their last meeting of any description came in a preseason friendly back in 2010, which Ajax won 3-1.
Betting tips and odds
Match odds (Betfair Exchange)
- Ajax to win: 6/4
- Draw: 11/4
- Chelsea to win: 2/1
Odds provided by Betfair Exchange. Click here to place a bet.
TV channel and live stream information
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate, and can be streamed live online via the BT app and website.
You can follow all the action and analysis on Standard Sport's LIVE blog from the Johan Cruyf ArenA on the night.
