Champions League: Ajax Need Some Dutch Courage to Take on Napoli!

Napoli vs Ajax

You could forgive Ajax a few nerves this week when they head to the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples, as they know exactly what to expect but they may not know how to deal with it! 

Napoli have made an explosive start to their Champions League campaign, winning three from three and topping Group A ahead of Liverpool. They are also storming Serie A by winning games and scoring freely.

And last week Napoli totally destroyed the Dutch giants with a ruthless and brilliant attacking display, winning 6-1 in Amsterdam as Giacomo Raspadori hit a brace and four other Azzurri players breached the Ajax defence.

It was a humbling experience for the Eredivisie champions in front of their own fans and one they will not want to repeat in Naples, but they need to find a huge turnaround in just over a week, which will take organisation, bravery and a big slice of luck! 

Talking Points

Napoli reaching for Cloud Nine

Azzurri head coach Luciano Spalletti has led his side to some phenomenal heights already this season, they come into the game on the back of a 4-1 win over Cremonese, an eighth victory in succession and one which takes them clear at the top of Serie A.

The latest Champions League 2022 betting odds have brought the Azzurri in to a price of 21.00 which means they are seventh favourites to win the trophy. And that price will keep on falling if they can continue their recent form.

In their three wins so far the Italian side has scored 13 goals and conceded just two as Raspadori has racked up three goals, while Piotr Zielinski and Giovanni Simeone have two each. Zielinski is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the business and Ajax will need to keep close to the Polish star.  

Skippered by Giovani di Lorenzo, this is an all-out attack side with the likes of Matteo Politano and Hirving Lozano fighting for a starting place and Victor Osimhen yet to return from injury.

The Azzurri’s recent clash with Torino showed just how much firepower the Azzurri have throughout their team as defensive midfielder Zambo Anguissa scored twice in a 3-1 win. And they seem to have recovered from the loss of centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea with 6ft 4in Kosovan defender Amir Rhamani stepping up.  

The Dutch Champions have a mountain to climb

Ajax got their thrashing by Napoli out of their system with a 4-2 win away to Volendam which took them up to second in the Eredivisie League table. But they are out at a SBOTOP price of 6.00 to get through this group and they must hope that Scottish strugglers Rangers can somehow get a result against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Head coach Alfred Schreuder had big shoes to fill when Erik Ten Hag left for Manchester United after five successful seasons with Ajax. And the former coach has plundered the club, taking defender Lisandro Martinez and striker Antony with him, which has made the job even harder for Schreuder. He’s doing okay in the league and poised to make a title challenge but, in contrast with Napoli, Ajax’s Champions League 2022 results have been disappointing, with the thrashing by the Azzurri and a 2-1 defeat to misfiring Liverpool, though they did hammer Rangers 4-0.  

Striker Mohammed Kudus has three goals and will be supported by former Spurs man Steven Bergjwin, while Dusan Tadic’s red card last week will keep him out of this rematch. Lucas Ocampos, on loan from Sevilla, could be in line for a start.

Ajax will need to break down the Napoli rearguard somehow, while their own defence will rely heavily on the experience of Daley Blind and he is likely to be one of the busiest men on the night.     

History

Ajax have a more impressive history of these two teams, winning a record 36 Dutch Eredivisie titles and they are four times European Cup winners. Meanwhile, Napoli are twice Scudetto winners and 1989 UEFA Cup champions, though there is no doubt that Serie A is a much tougher competition than the Dutch league. 

And recent form favours the Italians who have won the last six and are unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions, while the Dutch side has won two, drawn one and lost three of the last six.

Betting Tip

Ajax is at a price of 1.84 with that +1.00 advantage but I think the Italians simply have too much momentum and belief to be stopped in Naples. The Dutch need all the courage they can muster and are at odds of 2.23 for the Double Chance win or draw.

2-1 to Napoli, at 6.56, is the most likely score line and while that would be bad news for Ajax, a close game would restore a little pride.  

 

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