Will Tottenham sink or swim? The first leg of the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals will take place on Tuesday evening and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be quietly confident of taking a lead into the second leg in Amsterdam.
Spurs will have to cope in the absence of two of their most important players though. Harry Kane is out through injury while Heung-Min Son is suspended for the first leg. However, the 13/10 for Tottenham to win in 90 minutes still represents decent value.
Ajax are no slouches though and the Dutch outfit have been one of Europe’s standout teams this season. With knockout stage victories over Real Madrid and Juventus already acquired in 2019, the visitors will fancy their chances of a positive result.
Erik ten Hag will have his side fired up and ready to go. Ajax only know how to play one way and I’m expecting the Dutch giants to attack Spurs from start to finish. The 16/25 on offer for Ajax to avoid defeat is well worth considering given Tottenham’s woes.
Spurs will be looking for a repeat of the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester City but keeping a clean sheet against Ajax will not be very difficult indeed. Without further ado, let’s take a look at 888sport’s Champions League betting odds ahead of Tuesday’s contest.
Tottenham have won just five of their last 13 matches in all competitions and Pochettino’s men will need to raise their game for Tuesday night. 23/20 for over 1.5 Spurs goals is a solid price if you trust the hosts to get the job done.
With Kane and Son forced to watch from the side-lines, the onus may be on Lucas Moura to lead the line. Priced at 43/20 to get his name on the scoresheet, the Brazilian has 10 goals to his name this season and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Lucas get in on the act.
Ajax have scored over 150 goals in all competitions this season and the visitors will be tough to stop if they take the lead. Spurs will be wary of conceding an away goal on Tuesday night but nerves could easily creep in if the Dutch side start well.
The 27/10 for Ajax to take a lead into half-time is a price worth taking. All of the pressure is on Tottenham and that should play into Ajax’s hands. We could see the visitors send out a statement of intent with a fast start under the Tottenham Stadium floodlights.
Both teams to score looks likely on Tuesday evening and the 13/20 is worth sticking in an accumulator. European matches are often cagey but this may be an exception to the rule: Tottenham and Ajax could put on a show for neutrals.
EVS for five or more Ajax corners represents excellent value for punters – the visitors should create plenty of chances in the final third. Pochettino’s men may find themselves under the cosh on a regular basis if the Dutch side find their best form.
Looking at the tie as a whole, Ajax are my pick to advance to this year’s Champions League final. 4/5 is an excellent price for the Dutch giants to go on and compete in the European showpiece and we could see another masterclass on Tuesday night.
TIP: Ajax to win OR draw @ 16/25
LONGSHOT: Ajax to lead at half-time (Priced at 27/10 with 888sport)
PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 1-1 Ajax (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
