Champions League
2012-09-18 - Borussia Dortmund vs Ajax
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Tuesday 18 September 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Borussia Dortmund
After a long absence from the top table of European football, Borussia Dortmund have made it to the Champions League in consecutive seasons, although they may have been hoping for a kinder draw as the Bundesliga Champions last season. Unfortunately for Dortmund, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax, all Champions in their own right, make up this 'Group of Death'.
Borussia Dortmund have picked up 7 points from a possible 9 in a bid to retain their title for the third consecutive season and confidence should be high from a 3-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen over the weekend. Home games in the Champions League are going to be vitally important for all the teams in this Group so this game is almost a 'must win' for the German side.
Confidence will be high that Dortmund can pick up the three points from the game as they have won 12 of their last 13 games in front of their own fans and they are unbeaten since losing 2-3 to Marseille in the Group Stage of this competition last season. Dortmund played well in their home games in the Champions League last season, but they finished with a 1-1-1 record, blowing leads against Marseille and Arsenal.
Ajax
It is funny to think that Ajax have as many Champions League trophies as ALL FOUR of England's representatives combined, yet they are considered an absolute outsider to even make it to the last 16 these days. With money running the game as it is these days, it is hard for the likes of Ajax to keep their talented players together, although Frank de Boer is definitely getting the best out of his Dutch Champions.
They are currently 3rd in the Eredivisie, 4 points behind Steve McClaren's Twente, as Ajax have managed to pick up 11 points from their opening 5 League games. The side have won their 3 of their last 4 League games, including a comfortable home win at the weekend, but the Champions League provides a higher level of competition than they are used to facing.
Ajax have only won 2 of their last 9 away games in the Champions League, although they have only lost 4 of those games (twice to Real Madrid). Last season they finished 1-1-1 away in the Group Stage, earning a draw in Lyon and beating Dinamo Zagreb, although losing again in Spain to Real Madrid. Ajax also beat Manchester United 1-2 at Old Trafford in the Europa League and were a little unfortunate they couldn't go through to the next stage of that competition after a 0-2 home loss in the first leg.
Head to Head
This will only be the third time these two teams have met in a competitive fixture and the first time since the 1996 Champions League.
Ajax beat Dortmund 3-0 on aggregate (0-2 in Germany) on their way to winning the competition for the final time in their history.
Dortmund actually were the team to win the competition the following season so it was at a time when both clubs were in stronger positions than they are currently.
Prediction
I do like both of these teams as they are attacking sides that look to win games, no matter who the opposition, but that could also be their downfall in a Group containing a couple of top sides in Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Both Borussia Dortmund and Ajax will be viewing the other as the team they need to take at least 4 points from if they are to surprise the other two teams in the Group and earn their way into the next stage of the Champions League and that could make this an exciting game.
However, the layers are taking no chances by offering the best price of 1.73 that at least 3 goals are scored in this game.
What has surprised me is that they have also priced up 'Both Teams to Score' at 1.92.
I am expecting both teams to have a go in this match and try and pick up the three points. Borussia Dortmund were very good going forward last season, but they also only kept a clean sheet against Olympiacos in this competition, while Ajax have only failed to score in 3 of their last 10 away games (twice at Real Madrid).
Honestly I did think the over 2.5 goals will come in, but that was because I was expecting a winner after both sides scored one each. I am surprised the layers think the overs is almost a given, but they are expecting Dortmund to cover this on their own. I'll take the odds on that both team score at the bigger price.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Ajax
