Matchday 4 of the Champions League group stage begins on Tuesday, which means fans will see the second encounters between clubs like Chelsea and Ajax as they battle for positions in the knockout stages.
Chelsea went to the Netherlands just two weeks ago and left with a 1-0 victory over Ajax, which had made an incredible run to the semifinals of last season’s Champions League.
Chelsea Looks for Second Win vs. Ajax
That leaves the two clubs equal on six points at the top of Group H, ahead of Valencia (four points) and Lille (one point).
Chelsea has been in solid form over the past couple of weeks. Since the win at Ajax, the club has two Premier League wins over Burnley and Watford, mixed in with a League Cup loss to Manchester United. Overall, the team has looked lively, with young stars like Christian Pulisic stepping up to contribute for a team that is currently under a transfer ban that has limited its outside options.
A win at home over Ajax would put Chelsea close to a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds, though manager Frank Lampard doesn’t want his squad to get ahead of itself.
“We have had two good results, another one would be great for us,†Lampard told reporters about the team’s chances of going through. “But the danger of Ajax is massive.â€
At FanDuel Sportsbook, Chelsea is a -110 favorite to get a win over Ajax (+280).
Dortmund Hosts Inter Milan
Another crucial Champions League clash on Tuesday sees Borussia Dortmund play host to Inter Milan. The two teams are currently tied for second behind Barcelona in Group F, but Inter has the advantage thanks to a 2-0 home win against Dortmund last month.
That performance had German media calling for the head of Dortmund manager, Lucien Favre. Dortmund hasn’t lost a domestic match since then, however, and are coming off a 3-0 win against Wolfsburg that should give them confidence as Inter comes to town.
“In the end, there was almost an element of joy back in our game again,†Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said of the club’s performance against Wolfsburg.
With Tuesday’s game potentially determining who gets the second ticket out of Group F, that goodwill could be lost in a hurry if Dortmund doesn’t get a win. The hosts are a +100 pick to get the full three points over Inter (+270).
Champions League Odds
- Zenit St. Petersburg (+200) vs. RB Leipzig (+125)
- Barcelona (-550) vs. Slavia Prague (+1500)
- Chelsea (-110) vs. Ajax (+280)
- Lyon (-105) vs. Benfica (+270)
- Liverpool (-1300) vs. Genk (+3500)
- Dortmund (+100) vs. Inter Milan (+270)
- Valencia (-110) vs. Lille (+340)
- Napoli (-125) vs. Red Bull Salzburg (+300)
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Also of note on Tuesday will be the Champions League matches from Group G, which is the tightest group in the competition after three matches. Zenit St. Petersburg (+200) hosts RB Leipzig (+125), while Lyon (-105) is home against Benfica (+270), with both matches having the potential to clarify things in the group. Currently, Leipzig is in first with six points, with Zenit and Lyon on four points, and Benfica bringing up the rear with three.
