Ajax head to France for a crucial Champions League clash with Lille. Kick-off on Wednesday is at 8pm.
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After their crazy 4-4 draw with Chelsea in the last round of matches, Ajax remains top of Group H but they are level on seven points with the English side and Valencia.
On Wednesday, Ajax head to Lille, who are bottom and out of contention, looking for a victory which would put them within touching distance of the knockout stages.
Ajax remains in excellent form in the Eredivisie with their comfortable 4-1 win over Heracles at the weekend keeping them six points clear at the top.
Opponents, Lille, lost 2-0 at PSG and are without a win in their last four matches. They currently sit 10th in Ligue 1.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season, Ajax secured a 3-0 victory over Lille in Amsterdam. Despite that result, Erik ten Hag still thinks they are equal to the French side, “I still think we are equal in this group. In Amsterdam we played well, but it was a flattering victory. ”
Team News
Ajax will be without Joel Veltman and Daley Blind, who are both suspended after the draw at Chelsea. Perr Schuurs and Edson Alvarez are likely to start in the centre of defence.
Noussair Mazraoui is a doubt for the clash, meaning Sergino Dest could start at right-back. 18-year-old defender Jurrien Timber has been included in the squad and could make his debut. David Neres is out injured.
Possible Ajax line-up: Onana, Dest, Tagliafico, Schuurs, Alvarez, Martinez, Van de Beek, Ziyech, Labyad, Promes, Tadic
Lille are without striker Timothy Weah along with centre-back’s Jose Fonte and Adama Soumaoro.
Possible Lille line-up: Maignan; Celik, Djalo, Gabriel, Reinildo; Andre, Soumare; Luiz Araujo, Yazici, Ikone; Osimhen
Odds
Lille 29/10 Draw 29/10 Ajax 17/20
Can Ajax win in France?
With the top of the group so tight at the moment, it is crucial that Ajax get a good result on Wednesday evening in order to leave them in a good position heading into the final clash with Valencia in Amsterdam.
Ajax are a team in great form and they look very sharp going forward through Quincy Promes and Hakim Ziyech. As long as their make-shift centre-back partnership holds strong, Ajax will be favourites for the win, but Lille have a pacey attack that can definitely cause issues.
The home side are out of the competition already, so anything other than a victory will be seen as a big opportunity lost for Ten Hag’s side.
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