Chelsea will look to continue their Champions League journey by ensuring Ajax remain pointless when they clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday at 8pm.
The game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Ajax
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo; Estevao, Buonanotte, Neto; Guiu.
Joao Pedro is suspended for the home side after his red card against Benfica last time out. Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile and Liam Delap are all set to miss out with injuries.
Chelsea team news vs Ajax
Enzo Maresca has his share of injury woes to contend with. Palmer remains the big miss, sidelined with a groin problem.
Ill discipline has been a problem of late. Joao Pedro is suspended after a red card in the win over Benfica here last month. But Malo Gusto is free to play in the Champions League despite his late dismissal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Moises Caicedo was fit enough to play 45 minutes at the City Ground and could earn a start. Enzo Fernandez is nearing full fitness. Former Ajax defender Jorrel Hato has largely been restricted to cameos and is again set for a place on the bench.
Will Chelsea continue impressive English record?
The sides may struggle to match the excitement of their last Stamford Bridge meeting. They shared eight goals in the 2019-20 group stage, with Reece James scoring the equaliser for the Blues after Ajax surrendered a 4-1 lead with an hour played.
The Eredivisie side were undone by two red cards in a minute. Both were for second bookable offences, handed out to Daley Blind and Joel Veltman.
They come to meet a Chelsea side with some disciplinary issues of their own right now. Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Joao Pedro and Gusto have all been sent off since mid-September, ensuring Chelsea have collected four red cards in six games.
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The Blues will be eager not to give Ajax any sort of leg up as the Dutch side bid to improve on a tame record against Premier League opponents.
They are without a win in their past 11 games against English teams, losing nine. Their last victory was a 0-1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their 2018-19 Champions League semi-final. Of course, they lost that tie on away goals, after losing 2-3 at the Amsterdam Arena in dramatic fashion.
Even more worrying for manager John Heitinga is the fact that Ajax have failed to score in their last five games against English opponents, trailing 0-11 in that time.