Tottenham Hotspur visit Ajax on Wednesday aiming to overcome a one-goal deficit in their Champions League semi-final tie.
Donny van de Beek’s 15th-minute goal in the first leg gave the Dutch side a deserved 1-0 lead and handed the Premier League club a difficult task in Amsterdam.
Spurs head into the game on the back of 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth in the league on Saturday, while Ajax cruised to a 4-0 victory over Willem II the following day to win the KNVB Cup.
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Bookmakers believe Spurs could have their work cut out against Ajax, pricing them up at odds of around 5/2 to win in 90 minutes on Wednesday.
Son Heung-min can play in the game, with a red card at Bournemouth over the weekend not affecting his availability in Europe.
Jan Vertonghen could also be available after recovering from a head injury suffered in the first leg, but Harry Kane and Harry Winks are definitely ruled out.
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Hassane Bande and Carel Eiting remain on the sidelines for Ajax, but they are manager Erik ten Hag’s only major injury concerns.
History is certainly against Spurs as they bid to reach the final of the Champions League for the first ever time.
Just one of the 17 teams who have lost the home first leg of a semi-final in the Champions League era have gone on to win on aggregate – Ajax back in 1995-96.
However, despite their impressive form in Europe this season Ajax have not been completely infallible on home soil.
They have failed to win their last three Champions League matches at home and nerves could play their part against Spurs with the final in touching distance.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side drew 1-1 at Barcelona in the group stage and a subsequent 1-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 highlights their ability to get the job done on the road.
Last week’s result was the first competitive victory for Ajax over Spurs in three previous attempts. They were beaten 6-1 on aggregate in a two-legged UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup tie back in 1981, with Spurs winning 3-1 in the Netherlands.
A repeat of that scoreline would be enough to send Spurs through to the final in Madrid on June 1, but it will need an almighty effort by the players to achieve their goal.
Follow our live blog for updates throughout the match.
Predicted starting line-ups:
Ajax: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico, Schone, De Jong, Ziyech, Van de Beek, Neres, Tadic.
Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Alli, Eriksen, Son, Lucas
Ajax vs Tottenham Hotspur Betting Tips
A 1-0 win for Spurs would be enough to send the game to extra-time. They can be backed at odds of 12/1 with MustardBet to do just that.
Spurs triumphed 3-1 on their last visit to Ajax. Over 3.5 goals in the match is priced at 5/4.
A draw in 90 minutes would ensure Ajax’s progression to the final. Bet on a stalemate at MustardBet at odds of 5/2.
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