Ajax vs Tottenham Hotspur Predictions

After a 1-0 at Tottenham’s new ground, Ajax are in the driving seat ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. The pair are the surprise sides in the last four, but the Dutch league leaders could wrap up a place in June’s final on Wednesday night. Spurs are fighting against history in their push for the final, while their recent record without Harry Kane has been poor. Can the Premier League outfit rally without their talisman and claim a famous win in this visit to Amsterdam?

Sunday saw Ajax claim the first leg of a potential treble, as they hammered Willem II 4-0 in the Dutch Cup final on Sunday. Ajax are narrowly ahead of PSV in the Eredivisie, while they are aiming for a shock success in Europe. Only seven sides in history have won their league, their major domestic cup and the Champions League in the same season. Of those seven, two have been Dutch, which makes the Netherlands the only nation with two treble winners. Ajax achieved it in 1972, but they’re four games away from a repeat.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s season rests on this clash. They have one Premier League game left, but their hope of silverware this season comes down to Europe. Spurs have booked their place in the Champions League next term, but it was a winding route to get there. They needed a result at Bournemouth at the weekend to get over the line, so they went to the South Coast with a strong side. They had two players sent off before the 50th minute, then they conceded with minutes to go to lose 1-0. Dropped points for Arsenal and Man United on Sunday means Spurs have the top four wrapped up.

Tottenham’s European hopes this season have likely taken a hit from their game at the weekend. Defending for almost a full half with just nine men is bound to take it’s toll, especially as they head to one of Europe’s most demanding sides. Ajax move the ball so well and they’re capable of running rings around a sluggish side. If they show any kind of weakness here, the Dutch side are likely to take advantage. Among the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finalists, Ajax are the only club to have scored in every game in the competition this season. That’s likely to make it a tough night for the Spurs defence.

The visitors come here with five defeats in their last six games. Their away league record is mixed, having lost at all of the top five on the road in the league. Also, since the start of 2018, Spurs have won only one of their six Champions League away games, a 1-0 victory at Dortmund in this season’s round of 16 (D3 L2). Given that Ajax come here with a five game winning run behind them, we’re backing the Dutch side to win this clash. Given that all of Spurs’ last five games have seen just a single goal scored – including four 1-0 defeats – we’re backing a 1-0 win for the hosts.