After two weeks of international break, the Champions League continues with the game between Ajax and Chelsea on Wednesday.
Since The Blues lost to Valencia on Match Day One, they are yet to be trounced by any team. As they travel to The Netherlands to play against Ajax, Chelsea must have it at the back of their minds that they are currently in third place in Group H and to move out of the danger zone, it is a must win game.
Lucky Ajax are unbeaten in both The Eredivisie and Champions League. De Godenzonen are currently Group H leaders with 6 points and to keep the bragging right, Erik ten Hag’s squad must dominate The Blues at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
As Tammy Abraham announced his presence in Europe on Match Day 2, he will be looking to score a goal or more against Ajax to help his team draw closer to the Round of 16.
Will he do that easily or he will struggle to get some goals pass a stubborn Ajax side who has not conceded a goal in the championship?
When and where is the match taking place?
Kick off: 4:55 pm
Venue: Johan Cruyff Arena
Date: October 23, 2019
Head-to-Head record
This is the first time the two teams are meeting in a UEFA competition. It should be noted that in Ajax’s last six games against an English team, they have recorded just a win.
African players to feature
Ajax
The ever intimidating Hakim Ziyech will bring creativity into the midfield. It’s Match Day 3 and the brilliant Moroccan has an assist and a goal to his name. His swiftness and skilful nature will cause problems for Chelsea and they will have to find a way to stop him.
Cameroon goalkeeper, Andre Onana, is yet to have a ball enter his net. He has played all two games and has made 11 fantastic saves. As his team hosts Chelsea, Andre Onana must bring his A game to help his team stay on top of the table.
Chelsea
The English club does not have an African player in the team.
Team News
Ajax
Bandè will not play in this game due to injury.
Chelsea
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham believes Ajax will be a difficult side but his team will leave Amsterdam with all three points in the bag.
“We know it’s not going to be easy, but I believe in myself and my team that we can hopefully get a result there. We got ourselves back on track in Lille. It’s not an easy place to go to, we dug deep and got that win. Who says we can’t do the same at Ajax?”
Frank Lampard is currently having injury crises with players like Rudiger, Kante, Emerson, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley and Christensen in doubt for the game.
Predicted Ajax XI: Onana, Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico, Martínez, Van de Beek, Álvarez, Ziyech, Tadić, Promes
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori,James, Kovačić, Jorginho, Alonso, Willian, Abraham, Mount
By Sakyibea Ofori