Chelsea -150 Favorites to Win Champions League Group H After Defeating Ajax
- 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.
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.
Ajax & Chelsea now level at top of Group H after Batshuayi wins it for the Blues. Most likely to finish in 1st place?#UCL pic.twitter.com/TGiLixM4h4
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 23, 2019
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.
Gave it all. Time to bounce back on Sunday. 🙏#UCL #ajache pic.twitter.com/4IMuNkAQNI
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 23, 2019
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.
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.
💥 Focus on the weekend! 🙌#ajafey #Klassieker pic.twitter.com/Tst9e5lAfw
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 24, 2019
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