Ajax vs Tottenham 2019 Champions League Lines & Game Preview

Fans of Tottenham Hotspur should be relieved that their team isn’t heading across the English Channel to take on Ajax down 3-0 in aggregate. In the opening minutes, it looked like Ajax was going to deliver that kind of rout, as Donny van de Beek scored for the visitors in the opening minutes. After that, Tottenham was able to defuse much of the visitors’ attack. However, that road goal is crucial for Ajax, because it means that Tottenham would need either to win 2-0 to advance or to win by at least one goal if Ajax gets on the board, because of the away goal tiebreaker. Ajax has knocked off Real Madrid and Juventus, beating both European powerhouses in the away leg, and they are a Cinderella story in this league, as they are not in the top 30 clubs in Europe as far as revenue, but here they are, knocking off blue bloods left and right. Tottenham eliminated Manchester City, no small feat either, and now the two square off in the second semifinal leg on Wednesday. We have your Champions League betting preview right here.

Ajax vs Tottenham 2019 Champions League Lines & Game Preview

Congratulations to Ajax on winning the Dutch Cup! The first part of a famous treble along with the #UCL and Eredivisie? pic.twitter.com/QZ9M0GKJ6R

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 5, 2019

When: Wednesday, May 8, 2019, 3:00pm ET Where: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam TV: ESPN Radio: None Live Stream: fuboTV NHL Odds: Ajax +110 / Tottenham Hotspur +240 / Draw +240

Why should you bet on Ajax?

Ajax rolls in with all kinds of momentum, as they delivered a 4-0 thumping in the KNVB Cup final this past weekend, getting a brace out of striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar. Ajax has an aggressive style that has paid dividends all year long in the Dutch league and has also brought them win after win after win in Champions eague play. Huntelaar is part of a trio who can deliver goals in bunches, and Tottenham’s defense is not always the stoutest. There’s a lot to be said for the intangibles in this game. With Harry Kane out for Tottenham, the Spurs are likely to be more susceptible to early discouragement on the road. If you like Ajax, you see them bringing the attack early and often, delivering another early goal, and then putting on a defensive vise to keep Tottenham from threatening an away goal. Ajax has rolled through opposition that is better than the Spurs already in these knockout rounds, and at home they represent a considerable threat.

Why should you put your money on Tottenham?

Tottenham is not looking particularly solid lately, having dropped three straight across all competitions. They lost at Manchester City in English Premier League play, days after eliminating the Citizens from Champions League play on that same field. Then they lost to Ajax last week and then went to Bournemouth this past weekend and took a bad Premier League loss. Harry Kane remains injured for the Spurs, but Heung Min Son will be eligible this week after missing the first leg with a suspension. Son brings speed to the Tottenham attack and increases their offensive capabilities. Tottenham has played better in Champions League play than they have in Premier League competition this season, as we’ve seen most recently in their elimination of Manchester City just to reach the semifinals. The prestige that comes with Champions League advancement seems to have motivated the Spurs in a season where they won’t be winning the Premier League. If you like the Spurs, you see them perhaps taking advantage of some overconfidence by the Dutch side, swiping an early away goal and then battling for the advantage.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction for Ajax vs Tottenham

While Ajax represents a Cinderella story, they do not represent a hoax. They’ve beaten too many of Europe’s quality clubs to count as a fluke. They have the talent to eliminate Tottenham — although they failed to put in more goals when they had the hosts on the rungs in England. If they can’t finish chances against the Spurs on Wednesday, they could find themselves in a real fight — or in a shootout. Even so, I see Ajax applying enough pressure to knock out Tottenham, 2-1.