Ajax vs Atalanta Betting Tips, Predictions & Odds - Atalanta backed to get the draw they need

Ajax play Atalanta in a crucial UEFA Champions League match at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Wednesday. The hosts have to win while Atalanta will progress should they manage to avoid defeat in Amsterdam.

Ajax come into this match knowing anything less than a victory will see them playing Europa League in the new year. 

Ajax have won five of their last seven since allowing Atalanta to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Italy earlier this season. 

That run saw Ajax beat Midtjylland 2-1 away and 3-1 at home in the Champions League. There were also convincing league wins over Fortuna Sittard at home (5-2), Utrecht away (3-0) and successive 5-0 victories against Heracles at home and Emmen away.

Ajax’s last Champions League match ended in a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool before losing lost 2-1 at home to Twente over the weekend. Dusan Tadic scored from the spot after an hour to level matters but Twente took all three points with a late goal.

Right-back Noussair Mazraoui is out injured, as are midfielders David Neres and Mohammed Kudus.

Sean Klaibar is likely to take the right-back birth while Lassina Traore could feature in attack.

Atalanta are in prime position to qualify for the next round ahead of Ajax but must avoid defeat in Amsterdam.

Usually Atalanta are a high scoring team, one of the highest scorers in Europe, but over recent weeks they have not been as prolific in front of goal. Since losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool the Italian side has not seen more than two goals in a match.

Following that 5-0 defeat, Atalanta drew 1-1 at home against Inter Milan and then 0-0 at Spezia. That was followed by a very impressive 2-0 win at Liverpool but they were brought back down to earth with a 2-0 home defeat to Hellas Verona.

Atalanta had a chance to all but secure their passage through to the next round of the Champions league in their last match, but drew 1-1 at home against Midtjylland. After conceding early it took the hosts to the 79th minute to find the equaliser through Cristian Romero.

Midfielders Robin Gosens and Aleksay Miranchuk have both tested positive for COVID-19 so will not feature on Wednesday.

Forward Sam Lammers has joined goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and centre-back Mattia Caldara on the treatment table.

Ajax and Atalanta have only met on one occasion and that ended in a 2-2 draw earlier this season.

Ajax are paying 2.30 to win with Atalanta available at 2.80. A draw is valued at 3.80 with bet365.

BTTS Yes is priced at 1.40 while No offers odds of 2.75.

One would normally expect this to be a high scoring affair but it could turn out to be rather cagey with so much on the line. Atalanta have not been their free-scoring selves of late while Ajax have it all to do as anything less than three points will see them eliminated from the Champions League.