SlipsTips shares a player-based selection ahead of Ajax’s clash with Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Ajax vs Olympiacos (Wednesday, 20:00)
Both still able to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League, Ajax and Olympiacos will square off at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night.
The hosts come into their final league phase fixture in must-win territory, needing a victory and a helping hand from elsewhere if they are to sneak into the top 24.
As for their Greek guests, they currently occupy the all-important 24th position, but they will almost certainly have to emerge from the Dutch capital with a positive result if they are to extend their stay in the competition.
The bookmakers have the visitors priced up as general 13/10 favorites with most firms; however, a case could be made for either outcome here, so I'm going to instead look elsewhere.
Gelson Martins has been priced up at a value 4/5 on bet365 to be fouled twice or more during this crunch clash, and that holds plenty of appeal.
Martins’ pace and trickery often see him attract close attention from opposition markers, which naturally leads to him earning his side free-kicks.
That has certainly been the case in this season’s Champions League, with the Portuguese winger drawing a sizeable average of 2.79 fouls per game.
A deeper dig into the data shows that Martins has been upended on multiple occasions in four of his six appearances in Europe's premier club competition this season, including each of his last two outings.
One stat that particularly leaped off the page was the fact that Martins was fouled no fewer than six times during Olympiacos’ 2-0 defeat away at Arsenal back on matchday two.
Being fouled six times that night is all the more remarkable when you consider he was only on the pitch for 62 minutes before being substituted.
What’s more, Martins is being fouled on an average of 3.06 times per game in the Greek Super League this season, which further strengthens the case for him to be upended twice or more on Wednesday night, especially in a game of this magnitude.
In direct opposition to Martins is likely to be Owen Wijndal, who was guilty of two offences during Ajax’s 2-1 win away at Villarreal last midweek.
Recommended Bet
- Gelson Martins To Be Fouled 2 or More Times – 4/5 (bet365)
Grant Heaney, aka SlipsTips, is a Freelance Football and Darts Writer with over six years experience. Grant has written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. He is a Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. You can find all of his tips on X @SlipsTips
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