Ajax vs Benfica prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-11-24 17:45.
[p]The only two sides without a league phase point in this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) meet in Amsterdam when Ajax host Benfica. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Managerless Ajax are quickly losing any hope of qualifying for next season’s UCL through the Eredivisie after suffering an embarrassing home defeat against Excelsior over the weekend, their fourth defeat from their last six home games (W1, D1). Since John Heitinga’s sacking, Fred Grim has failed to make a mark in his two games in caretaker charge (L2), and is now tasked with turning around a pointless UCL league phase to date (L4). Those defeats make it seven straight reversals for Ajax in major European competition, a negative club record which includes two home defeats to nil. [/p]
[p]Also sitting on four defeats after as many UCL games are Benfica, who are currently sleepwalking into an early elimination despite having strong overall competitive form since October (W5, D2, L2). The last three UCL defeats for Benfica came under the tutelage of two-time winning manager José Mourinho and all without reply, leaving the legendary boss at risk of losing four straight UCL games for the first time ever after 154 games managed in the competition. Playing away could perhaps be deemed a blessing for him then, as the Eagles have won a slim majority of their last nine UCL trips (W5, L4). [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Ajax have edged the previous nine H2Hs (W4, D3, L2), although they may face a tougher task here as the Amsterdam club have lost all seven games against Mourinho-managed sides by 2+ goal margins. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Ajax have conceded four of their five UCL home league phase goals this term after half-time. [/p]
[p]Only Arsenal players (66) have been fouled more often than Ajax players (62) in the UCL proper this season. [/p]
[p]Benfica have conceded five second-half goals without reply in this UCL league phase. [/p]
[p]Benfica have kept just two clean sheets across their last 12 UCL away games. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Ajax’s Wout Weghorst has scored Ajax’s sole UCL goal and has also been fouled eight times, at least twice per game, across his three league phase appearances this term. Scorer of 85 Eredivisie goals across 165 league appearances for Willem II and AZ, Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis should feel comfortable here in Amsterdam after scoring in three of his last four personal away H2Hs. [/p]
[p]Owen Wijndal is still an injury concern for Ajax, whilst Benfica will be without Dodi Lukébakio, who has suffered a broken ankle. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Despite the rotten European return of both sides, we’re backing a Benfica win and both teams to score given their vastly superior competitive form. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]