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Chelsea -150 Favorites to Win Champions League Group H After Defeating Ajax

John Dillon

by John Dillon in Soccer News

Updated Jan 4, 2023 · 6:25 AM PST

Frank Lampard is enjoying an impressice first season as manager of Chelsea
Chelsea coach Frank Lampard celebrates at the Johann Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam after his team’s 1-0 defeat of Ajax made them the frontrunners in UCL Group H. Photo from @Chelsea Official(Twitter).
  • Victory in Amsterdam fired up Londoners’ UCL campaign
  • Netherlands giants head to Stamford Bridge on Matchday 4
  •  Lampard’s team have advantage with two home fixtures

Chelsea took command in Champions League Group H with their impressive 1-0 win at Ajax on Wednesday.

Now with two of the remaining three fixtures at home, they have been made favorites to win the group. Their outright Champions League odds have also shortened from +4400 to +2600.

They face their main rivals Ajax again in the next UCL fixture at Stamford Bridge on November 5 at Stamford Bridge, London at 3:00 pm EST. This will be crucial to the group’s outcome – pricing the London team at -150 to finish on top of the standings.

Ajax are rated second favorites at +175 with third-placed Valencia at +600 and bottom side Lille at +8000.

UCL 2019-20 Group H Odds

Team Odds to Advance Odds Not to Advance Odds to Win Group
Chelsea -500 +350 -150
Ajax -400 +300 +175
Valencia +140 -175 +600
Lille +2000 -10,000 +8000

*Odds taken October 25, 2019

On current form and with fixture advantages, Chelsea are likely to finish first. But Ajax will present a tough challenge in London – and the Dutch outfit certainly represent more productive value at +175.

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Chelsea’s other home date in the group is against Lille, who have managed only one point from their three games and are highly likely to be beaten in London.

Dutch Fans Banned from London Game

It is the final Matchday 6 game on December 10 when Chelsea could have a huge advantage if the group is to be decided then.

They will also have an advantage in the home tie against Ajax because visiting fans from the Netherlands have been banned from attending by UEFA following violence among supporters at a game against Benfica last season.

Valencia have four points in third place – behind Chelsea and Ajax’s tally of six points.

Chelsea, managed by the club’s cult hero Frank Lampard, are also in good form domestically. After nine games, they were in fourth place in England’s Premier League after a run of three straight wins.

The win in Amsterdam changed the nature of the group after Chelsea had begun with a surprise 1-0 defeat at home by Valencia.

Ajax had been frontrunners in the group after defeating Lille 3-0 and then Valencia 3-0 in their opening two matches.

Meanwhile, two of second-placed Ajax’s remaining matches are away from home, although one is at struggling Lille.

Ajax had been frontrunners in the group after defeating Lille 3-0 and then Valencia 3-0 in their opening two matches.

Lampard won the UCL as a player with Chelsea in 2011-12. In his first season as manager, he has steadied the ship after a 4-0 opening day EPL defeat at Manchester United.

He has won praise for promoting young home-grown players such as striker Tammy Abraham – the joint-leading EPL goalscorer this season with eight goals along with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and young England midfielder Mason Mount.

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Beaten Semifinalists Last Season

Ajax were beaten semifinalists in last season’s UCL, where they were eliminated by Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

They lost two key players in the summer when defender Matthijs de Light joined Juventus and midfielder Frenkie de Jong moved to Barcelona.

They are in impressive form in the Dutch Eredivisie league. After 10 games, they were in top spot and unbeaten with eight wins and two draws.

They had scored 31 goals in the competition while conceding only seven.

With their final fixture away at Ajax, Valencia are very unlikely group winners.

Valencia now have successive home matches against Lille and Chelsea in their attempt to qualify.

But with their final fixture away at Ajax, Valencia are very unlikely group winners.

Pick: Ajax to win Group H +175

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