Ajax VS Juventus Match Prediction
2019-04-10
20:00:00
Ajax
VS
Juventus
Our Prediction Tip
Juventus will win this match.
2019-04-1020:00:00 Juventus will win this match.
Ajax and Juventus have twice met in the final of the European Cup/Champions League – the Dutch side winning in 1973 and the Italians gaining revenge, on penalties, in 1996. This will be their first meeting in European football since Juventus triumphed in the first knock-out round of the 2009/10 Europa League, winning 2-1 in Amsterdam before a goalless draw in Turin. In total, they have met 12 times with Juventus winning six and four ending in draws.
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With Cristiano Ronaldo expected to return, Juventus know they can put themselves in a strong position in this tie with an away win.
There are plenty of goals in this Juventus team, with Moise Kean providing them in Ronaldo’s absence, and Ajax have conceded in each of their last five matches.
At the other end, however, Ajax should also not be underestimated, particularly after the four they put past Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the last-16.
Dusan Tadic has enjoyed a remarkable season in front of goal, while Hakim Ziyech and David Neres have contributed plenty too.
They have scored 12 times in their last three games and, with Giorgio Chiellini missing for Juventus, the hosts can at least get on the board in this tie.
First legs are hugely cagey affairs, but recent form suggests that may not be the case here – and Juventus will be keen to ensure they hold the advantage heading back to Turin.
Juventus are favourites to win this first leg, with Bet365 and Betfair offering 13/10 on the visitors.
Ajax are not short of goals, however, and both teams to score has been set at a best price of 4/5 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Over 2.5 goals will return evens with Bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power and 888sport, while Juventus win and BTTS is 7/2.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero of the last-16 for Juventus, and he is 11/8 with 888sport to score at any time. Dusan Tadic is in fine scoring form for Ajax, meanwhile, and he is 5/2 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Ajax performed extraordinarily to beat Real Madrid in the last round but Juventus pose another serious test and, with goals expected in this tie, the visitors can return to Turin with the advantage.
Long-term absentees Hassane Bande and Carel Eiting are the only players missing for Ajax, with Noussair Mazraoui – suspended domestically after his red card against PSV – set to return in place of Joel Veltman.
Hakim Ziyech – Scored his 19th goal of the season in the win against Willem II, while he also has 17 assists. He also played a leading part in the defeat of Real Madrid.
Dusan Tadic – Reached 30 goals in a superb debut season when he netted from the spot against PSV Eindhoven and he also has a team-high 19 assists in all competitions too.
David Neres – Two goals against Emmen means he now has 11 in all competitions, complemented by 15 assists, having forced his way into the starting XI ahead of Kasper Dolberg.
Ajax come into this game having won all three matches they have played since the international break – bouncing back from a 1-0 defeat to AZ beforehand. An own goal, Dusan Tadic’s penalty and David Neres’ late strike earned a 3-1 win against title rivals PSV Eindhoven – despite Noussair Mazraoui’s red card – before away wins at Emmen and Willem II. Donny van de Beek, Daley Blind, Neres (twice) and Klaas-Jan Huntellar scored in a 5-2 win against the former, before Van de Beek, an own goal, Joel Veltman and Hakim Ziyech earned a 4-1 victory against the latter.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return from injury to face Ajax, after missing the weekend win against AC Milan. The Portuguese superstar suffered a calf injury while playing for Portugal. Douglas Costa is also fit again, but Juan Cuadrado and Giorgio Chiellini will be absent. Moise Kean has scored in each of the last three games, but Ronaldo’s return means he may have to continue to settle for a place on the bench.
Moise Kean – Three games and three goals since the international break – he could make an impact even if he does start as a substitute.
Paulo Dybala – Netted his tenth of the season in the win against AC Milan at the weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo – His hat-trick against Atletico Madrid was peak Cristiano Ronaldo, who now has 24 goals after his switch from Real Madrid in the summer.
Like Ajax, Juventus bounced back from defeat just before the international break to win the last three matches in a row. In their case, after a 2-0 defeat to Genoa, they came from the break to win 1-0 at home to Empoli thanks to Moise Kean’s goal. Kean has scored in both matches since too – after Leo Bonucci opened the scoring in a 2-0 win at Cagliari and a late winner after Paulo Dybala’s penalty equaliser in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat of AC Milan.
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