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Ajax vs Benfica Prediction & Betting tips
After two years of abstinence, Ajax Amsterdam have once again made it to the premier class and, somewhat surprisingly, the Dutch are also in first place after the second matchday. After a win in the opening match against AEK Athens they managed three weeks ago an unexpected but completely deserved draw at Bayern Munich. On Tuesday (23.10.2018, 20:00 clock) Benfica Lisbon comes now to the Johan Cruijff Arena, which is to be the next building block for Ajax on the way to the knockout stage. Although the Portuguese have almost lost their opening match in the Champions League against the German champions, they should not be underestimated. Because apart from the defeat in the first group match of the premier class Benfica is still unbeaten this season. In any case, the Lisboners would be well advised not to lose the match against Ajax, because this could already be a preliminary decision in the group stage. The game has a lot of potential and we expect a close game.
Ajax Amsterdam:
The last great successes of the Amsterdam Football Club Ajax are already a few decades back. Two years ago it was almost a big hit in the Europa League, but in the final of the Europa League Manchester United was one size too big. After a year without international competition, the team of head coach Erik ten Hag is now back in the premier class and so far unbeaten in both qualifying and the group stage. In qualifying Standard Liège with a total score of 5: 3 (A: 2: 2, H: 3: 0) and Dynamo Kiew with a total score of 3: 1 (A: 0: 0; H: 3: 1 ) are beaten. In the opening match of Group E then followed a sovereign and fully deserved 3-0 home win against AEK Athens. It was exciting on Matchday 2, when Ajax brought the admittedly ailing Bayern after the interim equalizer to the brink of defeat and still be highly satisfied with the 1-1 draw. Thus, the Dutch are unexpectedly in the first place before the third matchday and want to defend this course.
Ajax Amsterdam is experiencing an extraordinarily successful season so far. Fourteen weeks ago, only the PSV Eindhoven lost out of the 17 games that went beyond competition (0: 3), although the result hardly reflects the balance of power between the two teams. After all, Ajax was at least equal to the Eindhoveners and also a draw would have been fine. Otherwise, there are twelve wins and four draws on the credit side. They were followed by three Eredivisie defeats by Fortuna Sittard (2: 0), AZ Alkmaar (5: 0) and SC Heerenveen (4: 0) in the Eredivisie defeat to HVV Te Werve (7: 0). as well as the already mentioned draw against Bayern.
Especially in the Johan Cruijff Arena the ten Hag-Elf is a power. The last six home games were won and also clearly noticeable. The goal difference from these games is 22: 1 goals. At least three goals scored Ajax per game and that, although quite an opponent of international format (Liege, Kiev, Athens) were guests in Amsterdam.
Benfica Lisbon:
Although Sport Lisboa e Benfica is regularly represented in international competitions, the greatest successes in winning the European Cup have been more than half a century ago. However, the last final is from the 2013/14 season, when Lisbon lost to Sevilla FC on penalties in the Europa League. One of the blackest stories in recent club history comes from last season, where Benfica finished the quite feasible group stage pointless and with a goal deficit of -13. This low has already been overcome this season. For a lucky qualifier in which the Portuguese first Fenerbahçe Istanbul with a total score of 2: 1 (H: 1: 0, A: 1: 1) and PAOK Thessaloniki with a total score of 5: 2 (H: 1: 1; A: 4: 1) had left, followed in the group stage, first a completely deserved 0: 2 home defeat against Bayern Munich, before three weeks ago, a very lucky 3-2 win at AEK Athens succeeded. Benfica are now in lurking position in third place and could theoretically even take the league lead with a success at Ajax.
The season review reads similar to that of Ajax. Lisbon has so far conceded only the already mentioned defeat against Bayern. Incidentally, there are ten wins and four draws across all competitions. In the Portuguese Primeira Liga Benfica is after the seventh matchday at the top of the table and here could last celebrate a 1-0 win against FC Porto, after previously the game against CD Aves 2-0 could be successfully designed and GD Chaves a 2: 2 draw was wrested. In the Cup, head coach Rui Vitoria’s team survived the first round of the Taça de Portugal – the Portuguese Cup – last weekend, defeating Sertanense 3-0.
Away, Lisbon have so far won five wins and two draws. Well-known opponents were hardly represented here. Only Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens are mentioned here by name. Accordingly, Benfica must take in the upcoming game with the outsider role.
Ajax vs Benfica head to head matches
26.07.14 CF Benfica Ajax 0 : 1