Chelsea vs Ajax predictions, team news, betting tips, odds and Bet Builder

Chelsea vs Ajax kick-off, date & TV info 

Date Wednesday, October 22
Kick-off 8pm
Venue Stamford Bridge, London
Competition Champions League
TV TNT Sports 2

Chelsea are up to fifth in the Premier League and will be aiming to establish themselves in the upper echelons of the Champions League league phase by targeting a victory over Ajax at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were 1-0 winners at home to Benfica on matchday two and are hot favourites to overcome Ajax, who are still searching for their first points and goals of the competition.

Untitled Document

Recommended Offer

£50 In Free Acca Bets When You Place A £10 Acca (5+ legs)

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Freeze a winning score and win a leg of your acca early with AccaFreeze

18+ T&Cs apply

New customers only. Football Accas only. 5 legs or more. Odds 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 bet tokens. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Free Bets for Football Accas (5+ legs) only. Free Bets non withdrawable. Free Bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.

Chelsea vs Ajax betting tips & predictions

Best bet

Chelsea to win & under 4.5 goals
1pt 4-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

Player cards

Kenneth Taylor to be carded
4-1 bet365

Longshot

Chelsea to win 2-0
7-1 bet365

Chelsea vs Ajax preview 

Chelsea went through a sticky spell in September but they are back in the groove after three successive victories and should have too much class and knowhow for Ajax, who are the only one of 36 Champions League competitors without any points or goals to their name.

The Blues are on the up after taking advantage of some out-of-form teams.

Enzo Maresca’s side were worthy 2-1 winners at home to Liverpool and followed with a 3-0 triumph at Nottingham Forest, who announced the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou after the final whistle.

However, Chelsea’s first-half performance at Forest was well below the standard expected and there should be an emphasis on starting with greater intensity against Ajax, who arrive in England after a poor run of results.

Ajax go into every season with the aim of winning titles, but they have won just four of nine league matches and had a miserable weekend, losing 2-0 at home to AZ Alkmaar.

Johnny Heitinga’s side have slipped to fourth place, nine points adrift of leaders Feyenoord, and they have looked uncompetitive on Champions League nights, losing 2-0 at home to Inter and 4-0 at Marseille.

Ajax generated some positive statistics in the loss to Marseille, winning the shot count 13-8 and the corner count 7-0, but the contest was effectively finished within 26 minutes as the French hosts raced into a 3-0 lead.

Heitinga will be looking for a response but his attacking options are limited by injuries to centre-forward Kasper Dolberg and winger Steven Berghuis, who are two of the more experienced players in the squad.

Ajax’s veteran target man Wout Weghorst has led the line to decent effect, scoring five goals in eight league games, but he relies on regular service and could in for a a frustrating night against the Blues.

Chelsea had a few sloppy moments in September, conceding 11 goals over a five-game period which included a Champions League reverse at Bayern Munich and Premier League losses at Manchester United and at home to Brighton.

But they have conceded just one goal in their last three fixtures and the defensive improvement was much needed at a stage of the campaign when they are having to muddle through without creative genius Cole Palmer.

The latest news on Palmer, who faces an estimated extra six weeks on the sidelines, is a major concern which could have a serious impact on the club’s chase for honours.

Chelsea are further hampered against Ajax by Joao Pedro’s suspension, but they have been finding different ways to succeed and should brush aside Ajax with minimal fuss.

Taylor could get into trouble

Ajax struggled to get to grips with Inter and Marseille on matchdays one and two and they will be desperate to show a more competitive side at Stamford Bridge. 

There could be some feisty exchanges involving combative visiting midfielder Kenneth Taylor, who has committed 17 fouls in nine Dutch league games and looks a likely card candidate.

Blues can cruise to victory

Chelsea were 1-0 victors against Benfica last month and should be slightly more comfortable against Ajax, who were among the four teams with zero points after the first two rounds of fixtures.

However, the Blues are missing some key attacker players and and are unlikely to run away with it.

Chelsea vs Ajax Bet Builder

Pedro Neto to score any time

Neto has looked more of a threat since scoring three times at the Club World Cup and can notch his first goal of the Champions League campaign.

Wout Weghorst to commit two or more fouls

Ajax are likely to be heavily reliant on physical centre-forward Wout Weghorst, who could soon get on the wrong side of referee Felix Zwayer.

Tyrique George to be fouled at least twice

George could get a rare opportunity as a deputy for Joao Pedro and his physical style could draw a few fouls from the visiting team.

Pays out at 6-1 with Paddy Power

Key stats for Chelsea vs Ajax

♦ Chelsea have won their last three matches
♦ The Blues have opened the scoring in their last four fixtures
♦ Five of Chelsea’s last six games have featured less than four goals
♦ Ajax have won just one of their last six matches
♦ Ajax have gone eight games without a clean sheet

Chelsea vs Ajax betting odds

Sign up with Sky Bet to bet on Chelsea vs Ajax in the Champions League. Here are the latest odds for Wednesday’s match.

Odds correct at time of publishing

Want more top football betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport’s tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.

Chelsea vs Ajax team news and predicted line-ups

Chelsea

Enzo Fernandez is a doubt and Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile and Liam Delap are out of contention. Joao Pedro is suspended.

Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Neto, Buonanotte, Gittens; George.
Subs: Gusto, Estevao, Andrey Santos, Fernandez, Adarabioyo, Hato, Garnacho.

Ajax

The visitors are missing attackers Kasper Dolberg, Steven Berghuis and Don-Angelo Konadu, plus midfielder Branco van den Boomen and left-back Owen Wijndal.

Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Jaros; Gaaei, Sutalo, Baas, Rosa; Klaassen, Taylor; Edvardsen, Gloukh, Godts; Weghorst.
Subs: Mokio, McConnell, Alders, Raul Moro, Bounida, Regeer, Itakura.

Untitled Document

Recommended Offer

£50 In Free Acca Bets When You Place A £10 Acca (5+ legs)

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Freeze a winning score and win a leg of your acca early with AccaFreeze

18+ T&Cs apply

New customers only. Football Accas only. 5 legs or more. Odds 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 bet tokens. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Free Bets for Football Accas (5+ legs) only. Free Bets non withdrawable. Free Bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.

Read more:

WATCH: The Assist – Champions League Matchday 3 preview show 

Champions League Matchday Three predictions, odds and betting tips: Goals on the cards at the BayArena 

FAQs for Chelsea vs Ajax

When is Chelsea vs Ajax in the Champions League?

The match kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday

Where is Chelsea vs Ajax being played?

The fixture is taking place at Stamford Bridge in London, England.

Where can I watch Chelsea vs Ajax?

The match is being screened live on TNT Sports 2.

What is the match betting for Chelsea vs Ajax?

Chelsea are the 2-9 favourites while Ajax are 19-2 shots. The draw is available to back at 11-2.

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.