Bayern Munich v Ajax
Champions League. Kick-off: 8.00pm, Tuesday 2nd October. Live on BTSport ESPN
TWO European heavyweights meet at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday in Group G of the UEFA Champions League. Between them they have been European Champions nine times and share 20 European trophies (10 each) but it's German side Bayern Munich that have enjoyed the most recent success of the two.
The Bavarians have superceded their Dutch counterparts in recent years and are as short as 2/9 to add to their opening day victory over Benfica with another three points tonight.
But Bayern go in to the match with a serious dip in form. They followed up last week's 1-1 draw at home to Augsburg with a 2-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin at the weekend, to slip back in to second in the Bundesliga.
However, Niko Kovaç, will take confidence from his sides impressive home record in the competition. The hosts have lost just twice in their last 23 games (W19, D2, L2) on their own turf.
Ajax eventually ground down a stubborn, if uninspiring, AEK Athens side on matchday one, winning 3-0 at home, and they'll be targeting points from their home games to help them reach the knock-out stages. Left-back Nicolas Tagliafico was on target twice in that win and whilst I wouldn't be backing him to score against Bayern he's one to watch out for, at decent odds, for future Ajax matches.
The Dutch side lie second in Eredivisie, five points behind rivals PSV who hav made a prefct start with seven wins from seven.
It's hard to make a case for anything other than a Bayern win but not at 2/9. So it'll be goals bets for me in this one.
A few stats:
- Bayern have scored at least twice in nine of their last 11 CL games, and have got a first-half goal in each of their last three.
- Ajax have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight CL fixtures.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in five of Ajax's last six CL matches.
Over 2.5 goals is just 4/11 but Both Teams to Score looks a bit more appealing at 4/5. Another bet I like the look of is Over 1.5 first half goals at 5/6.
If you want a goalscorer bet it's hard to see past Robert Lewandowski. He's been directly involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in six competitive outings this season and is 13/8 to open the scoring.
For Ajax Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has scored six in seven top-flight games for Ajax so far this season and is 10/1 to score first or 12/5 anytime.
Recommended Bets
- Both Teams to Score 4/5 (Bet365)
- Over 1.5 First Half Goals 5/6 (Bet365)
- Bonkers Bet: Bayern 3 Ajax 1 9/1 (Bet365)
