These
two clubs may have won their respective domestic titles last season but
the Champions League draw has done them few favours with Real Madrid
and Manchester City also contesting this group. Neither side made it out
of the group stage last season with Dortmund winning just one of their
six group matches and Ajax losing out to Real Madrid and Lyon in
finishing third of their quartet. The group winner and outright betting
for this season's Champions League is available here
and Dortmund would have been far shorter had their name been drawn
alongside some of the lesser lights. Still, this time round they are
expected to step up significantly on their Champions League efforts of
last season and with the group favourites to tackle after this, a win
here will be vital.
Dortmund
have made an unbeaten start to their domestic season, taking seven
points from their first three matches and their wins both arrived at
home, first beating Werder Bremen 2-1 and most recently cruising to a
3-0 win over Leverkusen. They also played out a 1-1 draw Nurnberg but
its at home where they excel and they have lost just one of their last
35 Bundesliga matches in front of their own supporters and are 31 league
games unbeaten in total. Translating that home form into the Champions
League is now the task in hand and they failed to recover from a
mediocre start in this competition last season although they did take
four points from their first two home games, a 1-1 draw against Arsenal
and a 1-0 win over Olympiakos before a late capitulation saw them go
down to a 3-2 defeat against Marseille.
Ajax
are also unbeaten in their league campaign so far with three wins and
two draws against their name. They have hit the net 17 times in their
five league outings in the Eredivisie, a league rich in goals, but they
drew a blank on their visit to Real Madrid (lost 3-0) and Lyon (drew
0-0) in their Champions League road trips last season as well as in two
of their home games. A number of star players moved on at the end of
last season with van der Wiel (PSG), Vertonghen (Spurs) and Anita
(Newcastle) all completing big money moves and whilst their were
arrivals, its highly debatable as to whether they have the same strength
as they did last season.
Match Result (90 minutes)
Dortmund 9/20 BetXchange, World Sports Betting, Hollywood, Sportingbet
Draw 7/2 BetXchange
Ajax 7/1 BetXchange
Selected Others
HT/FT Dortmund/Dortmund 11/10 World Sports Betting
HT/FT Draw/Dortmund 3/1 World Sports Betting, Sportingbet
Double Chance Draw/Ajax 1.65/1 Hollywood
Under 2.5 goals 13/10 BetXchange
Over 2.5 goals 13/20 World Sports Betting
Both teams to score (no) 9/10 World Sports Betting
One team to score only 21/20 Sportingbet
Both teams to score (yes) even money BetXchange
Note, odds are correct at
the time of publication but are subject to change and not all
bookmakers had priced up at the time of writing.
The Verdict:
This is a crucial game
and assuming it doesn't end all square, it would be hard to see a way
back for the loser in an ultra tough group. The onus really is on
Dortmund as the home side, their domestic record speaks for itself and I
reckon they can get themselves in front before the break and stay
there.
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