Ajax v Benfica predictions: Defensive wobble unlikely to derail Dutch champions

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Ajax v Benfica in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Ajax to win & both teams to score
1pt 11-8 bet365, BoyleSports

Team news

Ajax
Sean Kleiber is sidelined along with goalkeepers Maaren Stekelenburg and Remko Pasveer. Mohammed Ihatteren faces a fitness test.

Benfica
Lucas Verissimo, Rodrigo Pinho and Haris Seferovic remain sidelined but Nicolas Otamendi should be fit to start in defence.

Match preview

Ajax breezed through the Champions League group stage, winning all six of their games against Sporting, Borussia Dortmund and Besiktas, and they made the perfect start to their last-16 first leg away to Benfica.

Dusan Tadic gave the Amsterdam giants the lead inside 20 minutes but Benfica hit back through an own goal from Sebastian Haller, the striker who scored ten goals in six group games.

Haller swiftly restored Ajax's advantage, scoring at the right end, but Benfica battled back again to claim a 2-2 draw and they can land a blow in the second leg.

Erik ten Hag's Ajax defence has been untroubled for most of the Eredivisie campaign, conceding just five goals in their first 23 league games.

However, that tally has more than doubled in their last three outings, a 2-1 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles and 3-2 wins over RKC Waalwijk and Cambuur.

Both of those victories were clinched by injury-time goals for Ajax but they should be backed to raise their game with a place in the Champions League last eight on the line.

Benfica's patchy league form continued with a 1-1 home draw against lowly Vizela on Friday, when they had Adel Taarabt sent off in the seventh minute.

Both teams have scored in nine of their last ten matches in all competitions and that trend may well continue in Amsterdam.

However, Ajax scored ten times in three home group matches and should have the attacking quality to seal progress in normal time.

Key stat

Ajax have conceded twice in each of their last three Eredivisie matches.

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