Benfica vs Ajax

Ajax travel to the Estadio da Luz to take on Benfica in the first leg of their exciting UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.

After handing their Primeira Liga title pursuit a massive blow with a disappointing 2-2 draw away to Boavista at the weekend, Benfica will enter this tie as outsiders. Yet, the ‘Eagles’ boast an inspiring overall two-legged ties record against Dutch rivals (W7, L3), while they’ve won seven of their last eight home European games against Eredivisie visitors. Moreover, the Portuguese heavyweights have proved their continental credentials this season, leaving Barcelona in their wake en route to setting up their first Champions League knock-out tie in five years. But Benfica have faltered at home recently, losing two of their last three competitive outings at the Estadio da Luz (W1). Interestingly, five of their six home matches in 2022 have seen both teams scoring, highlighting the potential for high-octane, end-to-end action.

Meanwhile, Ajax head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having won their last ten domestic fixtures in a row since falling to a 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals AZ Alkmaar in mid-December. Erik ten Hag’s men have progressed into the Champions League knock-outs as one of just three sides to have won all six group fixtures, doing so by a resounding 20-5 aggregate scoreline. But despite humiliating Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in their Group C curtain-raiser, Ajax’s overall European record away to Portuguese sides doesn’t look promising (W3, D2, L4). The same goes for their two-legged ties record against Primeira Liga clubs (W3, L3), though it’s worth noting that their last such engagement dates back to 1993. Notably, the ‘Lancers’ have yet to lose a single away fixture in all competitions this season (W11, D2), winning each of the last eight on the trot by an aggregate score of 19-2.