Ajax host Valencia on Tuesday evening looking to book their place in the Champions League knockout rounds. Kick-off is at 8pm.
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Ajax are currently top of Group H and two points ahead of both Valencia and Chelsea, who host Lille in the other clash.
Avoiding defeat is enough for Ajax to book their place in the last 16, while a win would see them definitely go through as group winners.
Ajax go into the game on the back of a shock 2-0 loss to Willem II at the weekend. Erik ten Hag believe complacency crept into his side and has warned his players that they can’t be at 80/90% again.
He told his press conference, “We spoke on Saturday morning and showed what it is about. If you cannot be beat in Eredivisie for so long, then it is a logical consequence that you get the idea that it can also be at 80 or 90 percent. That has crept in with the entire team. That cannot happen, is unacceptable and cannot happen to us again. “
Ajax comfortably defeated Valencia 3-0 in Spain earlier this season but the visitors still have a chance to progress with a victory. Valencia go into the game in decent form having won two on the bounce including Sunday’s comfortable 4-2 win at Levante.
Team News
Ten Hag has injury issues ahead of the clash with Quincy Promes, David Neres and Zakaria Labyad definitely out.
Andre Onana was also a doubt for the game but he is expected to be okay to start.
Possible Ajax line-up: Onana, Dest, Tagliafico, Veltman, Blind, Martinez, Van de Beek, Ziyech, Tadic, Lang, Huntelaar
Jasper Cillessen will miss out on a return to the Johan Cruijff ArenA after suffering an injury last week. Cristiano Piccini, Goncalo Guedes, Denis Cheryshev and Geoffrey Kondogbia are also unavailable.
Possible Valencia line-up: Domenech; Costa, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya; Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Torres; Gameiro, Rodrigo
Odds
Ajax 13/20 Draw 10/3 Valencia 15/4
Can Ajax book their place in the knockout stages?
Ajax are so close to the knockout rounds once again but Ten Hag will be slightly concerned going into the clash with several key men out, while he will be hoping the defeat to Willem II was a big wake up call.
Valencia arrive in Amsterdam in good form and having already beaten Chelsea away from home this season.
Ajax will have to be switched on defensively and clinical going forward to seal victory. The hosts go into the clash as the clear favourites with the bookmakers but it will definitely be a tight and at some times nervy occasion.
The loser of this clash will have to be content with playing Europa League football for the rest of the campaign. Something Ajax will be definitely hoping to avoid.
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Would love for Ajax to progress but there are definitely concerns here. Missing Promes and Neres removes a lot of the punch from their attack, and they’ll have a bit of doubt in their minds after Friday’s poor performance.
The defense remains somewhat weak but in many UCL matches this year Ajax’s opponents have generated changes but have had poor finishing. If Valencia can do better in that regard, Ajax could be in trouble tomorrow.
ajax is gonna win yeh