Benfica vs Ajax: The Amsterdam side will cause a lot of problems for the hosts

Benfica host Ajax in their opening leg of the Champions League last 16. The Lisbon side has not produced a reliable defensive performance of late. Will ten Hag's side seize their chances?

Benfica have beat Barcelona in the Champions League group stage and made the play-offs. In their last five matches in all competitions, the Eagles have been less successful, with two wins, one draw, and two defeats. Their last opponents were Boavista, who scored two goals and shared the Portuguese league title. Benfica are in third place in the Primera Division, 12 points behind relegated Porto.

Ajax had a superb showing in the Champions League group stage, winning all six games. Ahead of their departure to the Portuguese capital, the Amsterdam club visited Willem 2. Expectedly, Ajax took another step towards the Eredivisie title with a 1-0 win. In the last ten games, Ajax have not suffered a single misfire and have nine times kept their goal intact. The Amsterdam side top the Eredivisie table, five points ahead of closest pursuers PSV.

The last head-to-head encounters between Benfica and Ajax took place in the 2018-19 Champions League season. The teams scored one goal each in the Portuguese capital and did not decide the winner. In Amsterdam, Ajax won with a narrow 1-0 advantage. In total, the clubs met in eight matches. In terms of wins, the Amsterdam side is 5-1 ahead.

The Amsterdam club is the favorite of the game. Erik ten Hag's side has had a successful season, and the players are in great shape for the important part of the season. It will be very difficult for the home side to claim a positive result, even at home. In the last ten games, the Lisbon side has only managed to keep their goal clean twice. I expect a quick goal in this game and the visitors to beat Benfica.

• Time of the first goal from 1 to 25 min for 1.83;
• W2 for 1.79;
• W2 and Total Over (1.5) goals for 2.06.