Champions League playoffs betting previews, free tips & TV details

TV: BT Sport, 8pm Wednesday

Ajax v Apoel Nicosia

Dutch champions Ajax captured the imagination of neutrals across Europe on their rollercoaster ride to the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League and judged by their efforts in qualifying this time around, we can expect plenty more thrills and spills from the Amsterdammers.

Ajax progressed to the playoffs with a typically gung-ho 5-4 aggregate success over PAOK Salonika in the third qualifying round and they are level with Cypriots Apoel after a goalless first leg, meaning a victory of any kind will suffice at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

There won’t be many times that the hosts are kept scoreless this term and Erik ten Hag’s men have already put four past VVV Venlo and scored five goals against Emmen in the league.

Former Southampton man Dusan Tadic was central to Ajax’s success last term, netting a personal best of 28 goals in 2018-19, and the penalty ace, who netted two spot-kicks in the second leg against Paok, could be the man to get Ajax on their way.

Recommendation
D Tadic first goalscorer
1pt 16-5 Betfair

Club Brugge v LASK Linz

Club Brugge are in pole position to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the third time in four seasons having taken a 1-0 aggregate lead away from their first leg against LASK Linz last week.

Hans Vanaken’s tenth-minute penalty proved to be the difference between the sides in Austria but that didn’t tell the whole story of a hard-fought contest.

Linz were superior in terms of possession (52-48), shots on goal (11-7) and corners (4-3) and look a spot of value with the draw no bet.

The Austrians, who are second in their domestic competition after four wins and a draw from their opening four games, beat European regulars Basel home and away in the previous round on their way to a 5-2 aggregate win.

New boss Valerien Ismael has added some steel to the Austrians since taking over in the summer with Linz conceding just twice in the league.

Recommendation
LASK Linz draw no bet
1pt 11-4 Hills

Slavia Prague v Cluj

Slavia Prague last made it past the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in 2007 but the in-form Czech outfit appear ready to end their exile from Europe’s top table.

Slavia hold a 1-0 lead after their first leg in Romania and the layers are confident that they can complete the job on home soil.

The Czech champs have begun the season with a real rattle. They are already five points clear at the top in a bid to retain their domestic title and deservedly won the first leg against Celtic’s conquerors Cluj, commanding 58 per cent of the ball and winning the shot count 8-6.

They will be all too aware of the threat Cluj pose after the visitor’s dramatic 4-3 triumph at Celtic Park in the playoffs. But they will also know that the Romanians’ need to attack will provide them with chances at the other end as the game wears on.

Backing the hosts to triumph to win after a tight first half could be the way to go.

Recommendation
Draw-Slavia double result
1pt 7-2 Betfair

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