Ajax v Atalanta Betting Tips [9 December 2020]

Second place is up for grabs in Group D with both Ajax and Atalanta jockeying for a position in the last-16 behind Liverpool. The Reds will finish top of the group as they have 12 points from five games with Atalanta currently second on eight, while Ajax have taken seven points from a possible 15. 

A draw for Atalanta would be sufficient but they are heading for the Johan Cruijff Arena with a dicey record of late. Their impressive 2-0 win in Anfield has them in a great position but it has somewhat papered over their recent woes. The Bergamo club drew 1-1 with minnows Midtjylland last week and their win over Liverpool remains their only victory in six games. In fact, Atalanta have just two wins from nine games in all competitions but they are unbeaten in four on the road having won three of those fixtures. Atalanta will be chasing their fifth straight victory away from home in the Champions League and they should have the firepower to do it having averaged 3.25 goals per game during their last four wins.  

As for the hosts nothing less than a win will do and they didn’t have the best preparation having lost to FC Twente, 2-1, at the weekend. Ajax suffered back-to-back defeats in the space of five days having won six games in a row prior to those losses. Before their defeat to FC Twente Ajax won three games in succession at the Johan Cruijff Arena but in Europe they have lost three of their last four games when hosting, all by a goal to-nil.