Chelsea vs Ajax Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
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Chelsea will be expected to continue to ride the wave of their newfound form as they take on a faltering Ajax side to Stamford Bridge in west London this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Chelsea preview: In-form Blues
Enzo Maresca was banned from the touchline at the weekend but Chelsea still managed to condemn Ange Postecoglou to the sack as the Blues hammered Nottingham Forest by three goals to nil at the City Ground the other day.
Chelsea started their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich but they have now managed three successive victories, which included a defeat of Benfica in this competition.
Ajax preview: Need to show something
Having suffered heartache when missing out on reclaiming the Dutch Eredivisie title on the final day of last season, Francesco Farioli departed Ajax for Porto and he was replaced by Arne Slot’s former Liverpool assistant coach Johnny Heitinga.
The Dutch giants have quite an average squad, especially by their own standards, and they have started their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign with a 2-0 loss to Internazionale and then a 4-0 defeat to Olympique de Marseille.
Chelsea team news: Joao Pedro suspended
Summer signing Joao Pedro is missing through suspension for this one and that means Tyrique George is expected to start up-front as Liam Delap, another summer signing, is still missing through injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Neto, Buonanotte, Garnacho; George
Unavailable: Badiashile (Injured), Colwill (Injured), Palmer (Injured), Pedro (Suspended), Delap (Injured)
Questionable: Fernandez (Injured)
Ajax team news: Experienced issues
Ajax are dealing with a few issues to experienced players such as defender Owen Wijndal, midfielder Branco van den Boomen and attacking duo Steven Berghuis and Kasper Dolberg.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Jaros; Gaaei, Sutalo, Baas, Rosa; Klaassen, Gloukh, Taylor; Edvardsen, Weghorst, Godts
Unavailable: Wijndal (Injured), Van den Boomen (Injured), Berghuis (Injured)
Questionable: Dolberg (Injured)
Chelsea vs Ajax prediction
Chelsea have discovered some form of late, with hard-fought victories against Benfica and Liverpool before the October international break before the most smash and grab of hammerings against Forest the other day. However, even if there would still be concerns raised over their performance level, they are facing what is a poor and average Ajax side and so a fourth successive win would be expected for the Blues.
Chelsea vs Ajax Tip: Chelsea to win -1 handicap
