Champions League: The Old Lady is Wary of Dutch Courage

Juventus vs Ajax

The Bianconeri’s assault on the 2019 Champions League continues in Turin on Tuesday night, but the Italian Champions will have to be at their best.

Juventus has been well fancied from the outset of the competition, while Ajax has emerged as a constant threat to the elite, and with the Dutch in fine free-scoring form this could be a humdinger!

A 1-1 draw in Amsterdam has given the Bianconeri an advantage for sure, and the Old Lady is now at odds of 1.31 to advance to the next round with our latest SBOBET odds offering 3.43 on the Dutch to advance. But David Neres’ equaliser, which cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener in front of 50,000 fans at the Amsterdam Arena, has left this tie up for grabs.

Talking Points

Allegri’s striking options

Juventus has power and class running right through its team, with defensive rock Leonardo Bonucci marshalling the defence and world cup winner Blaise Matuidi controlling the middle of the park alongside Rodrigo Bentancur.

And up front, head coach Max Allegri has an array of options. Big Croatian striker.

Mario Mandzukic started alongside the returning Ronaldo in the first leg in the Netherlands, while the quicksilver Paulo Dybala climbed off the bench.

Young Moise Kean could be in for a start according to the coach, having been an unused substitute in Amsterdam. He has deputised well for Ronaldo during the talisman’s injury absence; and while there were eyebrows raised throughout Italy when Juventus went down to humble SPAL at the weekend in a 2-1 defeat, he was on target again.

The latest Champions League 2019 betting odds have Juventus as one of the most likely winners, alongside Manchester City and Barcelona, and when you look at the firepower at his disposal you can see why Allegri holds the cards.

Ajax Captain Matthijs de Ligt’s defensive partnership with Daley Blind will be tested to the full.

De Jong injury doubt

Ajax are aiming to disappoint Champions League 2019 betting odds and win against Juventus — David Neres scored an equaliser for Ajax in the first leg of their UCL match vs Juventus

Barcelona bound Frenkie de Jong has been the star of the show in Amsterdam this season, earning him a lucrative move to the Camp Nou. But head coach Erik ten Hag says he could be missing when he limped off after half an hour of Ajax’s 6-2 win over Excelsior at the weekend. If that rules the 21-year old out of the return clash with Juve, it will be a big blow to the underdogs’ hopes.

But, of course, the Dutch are not a one man team. With fine players such as wing back Nicolas Tagliafico, the classy centre back pairing and Dusan Tadic up front ten Hag’s men are more than comfortable among Europe’s elite. Tadic completed a brace against Excelsior and is in fine scoring form.

History

Both these teams have a rich history in European football, winning six Champions League (European Cup) titles between them.

Of course, Ajax players formed the core of the Holland team which brought Total Football to the world in the 1970s, when Ajax won three of their four European Cups. And as well as winning the competition twice the Bianconeri has appeared in nine finals, including two of the last four.

The Old Lady has won three of the last five games between Juve and Ajax, since 2004, with two draws, those being the last two meetings.

Former Liverpool hit man Dusan Tadic has six tournament goals, one more than Juve’s Ronaldo and Dybala. And, Juve’s loss to SPAL excepted, both sides come into the game in fine form.

Ajax hasn’t lost in its last 5 games, aside from the first leg draw with Juve, the Dutch have won four domestic games in some style, scoring 18 and conceding six goals.

Meanwhile Juventus hasn’t lost in any of its last 12 home matches, winning the last five in a row.

Betting Tip

	Juventus vs Ajax	Over 2.50 goals @ 1.88
	April 17 03:00 (GMT+8)

Allegri’s team will be acutely aware that Ajax took a first leg deficit to the Bernabeu and then destroyed Real Madrid in the Round of 16. That was undoubtedly one of the Champions League 2019 results of the tournament and, while Ajax is no longer a surprise package, the hosts will be keen to avoid Los Blancos’ fate.

I think we have a real treat in store here. Juventus’ world class pedigree makes them clear favourites but Ajax is playing with freedom and courage, and scoring for fun. If anyone can get past Bonucci and chums, Tadic can. But then the Bianconeri has an array of attacking options so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see both team’s scoring.