Prediction Ajax vs Benfica: Match Preview and Analysis | UEFA Champions League, Matchday 5
Both teams remain stuck at zero points after the first four rounds of the Champions League, and Ajax and Benfica will face each other on Tuesday, 25 November at the Cruyff Arena with the aim of earning their first points and reopening the qualification race. Ajax are experiencing an extremely disappointing start to the season, not only in Europe but also in the Eredivisie: after last year’s second place, Grim’s men now find themselves fourth and already far from the top. A victory against Benfica could represent a crucial turning point, especially after the four defeats suffered so far in the Champions League against Inter, Olympique Marseille, Chelsea and Galatasaray. Another loss would almost definitively mean saying goodbye to the top European competition. Benfica find themselves in an identical situation, having also collected four defeats in as many matches against Qarabag, Chelsea, Newcastle and Leverkusen. The Portuguese side must therefore return from Amsterdam with three points to keep their final hopes alive of finishing the first phase among the top 24 and reaching the knockout stage. It is, therefore, a real direct clash: one of the two teams could relaunch their qualification hopes, while the other risks remaining stuck at the bottom, seeing their European ambitions almost completely vanish.