Ajax vs Chelsea preview, predictions & team news
Chelsea travel to Ajax on Wednesday looking to continue their fine recent form.
After a mixed start, Frank Lampard’s side have truly hit their stride and extended their winning run to five games when they beat Newcastle United 1-0 at the weekend.
In Ajax, they face a side unbeaten in all competitions since July – a run spanning 18 games – leading them to the top of the Eredivisie table.
Can the Blues overcome last season’s Champions League semi-finalists?
Read on for our predictions, key players, TV info and team news ahead of Ajax vs Chelsea.
When is Ajax vs Chelsea and where can I watch live?
Competition: Uefa Champions League
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena
Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Kick-off: 5:55 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 3
Recent form
Ajax (WWWWW)
19 October 2019: RKC Waalwijk 1-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)
06 October 2019: ADO Den Haag 0-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)
02 October 2019: Valencia 0-3 Ajax (Champions League)
28 September 2019: Ajax 2-0 Groningen (Eredivisie)
25 September 2019: Ajax 5-0 Fortuna Sittard (Eredivisie)
Chelsea (WWWWW)
19 October 2019: Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)
06 October 2019: Southampton 1-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
02 October 2019: Lille 1-2 Chelsea (Champions League)
28 September 2019: Chelsea 2-0 Brighton (Premier League)
25 September 2019: Chelsea 7-1 Grimsby (Carabao Cup)
Ones to watch
Ajax: Dusan Tadic
The form of Dusan Tadic was one of the highlights of Ajax’s remarkable run to last season’s Champions League semi-finals and it’s safe to say he hasn’t let up in this campaign.
The Serbia international has once again thrived in his false nine role, notching six goals and eight assists across Eredivisie and Champions League games, while he also now carries the confidence of a Ballon d’Or nomination.
Key stat: Dusan Tadic has more assists (8) than any other player in the Eredivisie in 2019/20.
Chelsea: Tammy Abraham
Olivier Giroud is making lots of noise about his lack of playing time at the moment but his situation won’t improve as long as Tammy Abraham keeps up his current form.
The 22-year-old has thrived under Lampard since returning to Stamford Bridge, so much so that he earned a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England side.
Key stat: Tammy Abraham has scored nine goals in 13 games across all competitions for Chelsea this season.
Team news
Ajax
Ajax are free of injury ahead of their clash with Chelsea, while Erik ten Hag will have left-back Nicolas Tagliafico available after his domestic suspension at the weekend.
Predicted XI: Onana; Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico; Van de Beek, Martinez; Ziyech, Promes, Neres; Tadic.
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Chelsea
Chelsea will be without Ross Barkley, N’Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger for their trip to Amsterdam with the pair all currently suffering with injury problems. They join Andreas Christensen on the sidelines, with the Danish centre-back already previously ruled out by Frank Lampard.
But Chelsea could be buoyed by the return of Emerson, with the left-back travelling with the squad to Amsterdam after stepping up his recovery from injury.
Predicted XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Pedro.
Squawka prediction
This is an extremely mouth-watering clash between two teams that are in red-hot form and cannot afford to slip up in this tight Champions League group.
Defeat would be especially damaging to Chelsea, so expect Lampard’s team to bunker in and play on the break, although a point might not be a terrible result on the road.
Scoreline prediction: Ajax 1-1 Chelsea
