Champions League: Eagles Out to End Ajax’s European Adventure

Ajax vs Benfica

Ajax still have a lot of work to do to keep their Champions League adventure alive. The Dutch champions took the lead twice against Benfica in the first leg, but the Eagles came back to equalise twice to claim a 2-2 draw.

With away goals no longer in play, Erik ten Hag’s side must now win the second leg at home to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since their incredible semi-final run in 2019.

The Champions League 2022 betting odds still back Ajax, but Benfica have proven to be a formidable foe and will look to exploit the Dutch giants’ suddenly shaky defence once again.

Talking Points

Ajax’s defence trending downward 

Ajax were unable to escape the first leg against Benfica with an advantage to take back home after they twice squandered a lead to the Portuguese.

The worrying trend of Ajax’s fragile defence failing to hold onto leads has only continued in recent games. They surrendered two-goal leads in their last two Eredivisie games against RKC Waalwijk and Cambuur and needed late goals to win on both occasions. They have now conceded two goals in four of their last five games in all competitions.

But the good news for Ajax is that they have more than enough firepower to simply outscore opponents. Sebastien Haller continues to be an unstoppable goal machine. He has scored three goals in his last two games, raising his total to 32 goals this season. That includes 11 goals in the Champions League, which is second only to Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

The likes of Dusan Tadic, Antony, Steven Berghuis, and Ryan Gravenberch are also quite capable of producing their share of Champions League 2022 highlights.

Ajax also have the advantage of being at home, where they have won their last seven games in a row. They have only conceded two goals during those seven games, while scoring an astounding 34 goals. They also won all three Champions League group games at home, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two.

Benfica bound to keep attacking

Benfica showed some terrific mettle as they battled back from a goal down twice to force a 2-2 draw with Ajax in the first leg at home. The Portuguese side displayed impressive bravery as they went at Ajax and outshot them, 17-11.

Since taking charge of Benfica in December of last year, Nelson Verissimo has set his Eagles side up to attack. Benfica have scored 24 goals in 14 games while conceding 17.

Darwin Nunez has been responsible for majority of those goals. The 22-year-old Uruguayan has scored 23 goals, three of which have come in the Champions League. He bagged a brace in Benfica’s famous 3-0 win over Barcelona in the group stage.

Nunez had a relatively quiet game in the first leg, but he will likely keep his starting spot. But it remains to be seen whether Verissimo will stick with 20-year-old Goncalo Ramos alongside Nunez or start Roman Yaremchuk. The Ukrainian came on as a substitute to score Benfica’s equaliser against Ajax and has made seven Champions League appearances, six of which were starts.

Benfica failed to win any of their three away games during the Champions League group stage. They drew 0-0 with both Dynamo Kyiv and Barcelona and were thumped 5-2 by Bayern in Munich.

History

This will be the ninth meeting between these two historical European giants. Ajax hold a 4-1 edge in terms of wins, with three draws.

Benfica’s one win against Ajax did come in Amsterdam in their very first meeting in the 1969 European Cup quarter-finals.

But Ajax have gone on to win their next two meetings at home, the most recent of which came in the 2018 Champions League group stage. They won 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP odds have Ajax installed as significant 1.40 favourites to win the home leg and the tie. Benfica are priced at 7.40, while a draw is at 4.50.

With all the attacking weapons they have at their disposal, Ajax should have enough to make home advantage count and reach the quarter-finals.

But Benfica will not back down. They will not just sit back away from home, and with Ajax’s defence suddenly looking quite shaky, they could very well score a few more goals in Amsterdam.

It’s not entirely out of the question that Benfica stun Ajax. But at the very least, I expect the Eagles to push Ajax all the way and lose by a narrow margin.

 

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