TipResumen

AJAX

One more Round needs to be negotiated by Ajax if they want to get back into the Champions League Group Stage for the first time in five years, but this has to be toughest of the tests they have faced in the competition. Finishing Runners Up in the Netherlands means Ajax joined the Champions League in the Second Qualifying Round and had to take part in the tougher 'League Route' into the Group Stage. The former four time European Cup winners have had to beat Sturm Graz and Standard Liege to move through to the Play Off Round and Ajax would have earned some considerable confidence from those victories. They have won 3 of the 4 Champions League games played this season and Ajax play the first Leg of this Play Off Round tie at home where they have won 11 of their last 13 home European games in the last couple of years. Ajax are unbeaten in their last 9 games in all competitions including in all 6 games played in the 2018/19 season while they have won back to back games going into this fixture. They have won 13 of their last 15 games in all competitions at the Amsterdam Arena and beat both Sturm Graz and Standard Liege here in the Champions League.



DYNAMO KIEV

It has been a long time since Dynamo Kiev were right in amongst the very best teams in European Football, and these days most would consider Shakhtar Donetsk the team to beat in Ukrainian Football. The last couple of League titles have been won by Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev have come out on top just a couple of times in the past decade. That means Shakhtar Donetsk have earned their place in the Champions League Group Stage as Champions of the Ukraine and Dynamo Kiev have to negotiate a couple of tough matches to join them. They did beat Slavia Prague 3-1 on aggregate in the Third Qualifying Round but Dynamo Kiev have not won any of their last 4 away European games although 3 in a row have been drawn. Dynamo Kiev have made a very positive start to the new season and they are unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions going back to the end of the 2017/18 campaign. During that time Dynamo Kiev have won 7 times, while they are also unbeaten in 9 away games in all competitions. Dynamo Kiev had won 7 straight away games too before the 1-1 draw in Prague in the last Round.



HEAD TO HEAD

Ajax and Dynamo Kiev played one another in the 2010/11 Champions League Qualifiers and it was the Dutch side who edge the tie 3-2 on aggregate. The match at the Amsterdam Arena finished 2-1 to Ajax in August 2010.



PREDICTION

Some may consider this the tie of the Round in the Champions League Play Offs as both Ajax and Dynamo Kiev will want to join the elite of European Football in the Group Stage. It looks a very close one to call over two Legs with both clubs impressing to get to this Play Off Round as they go through the additional obstacles created by the new look Qualifying Ajax have been very good at home in European competition in the last couple of years, but they still look very short in the market for the First Leg. They are facing a Dynamo Kiev who are very experienced at this level and who have shown they can be very tough to beat away from home especially when not facing the very best teams in Europe. I do think both teams will have their moments and I will look for both teams to score. As well as Ajax have played at home in Europe, they are a team that does still offer some chances and Dynamo Kiev are better than what they have faced so far this season to think they will pose more problems. On the other hand Dynamo Kiev are a team who will be looking to contain Ajax for as long as possible and head back home with an away goal or two while earning at least a draw. That looks a real possibility in this one, but ultimately a narrow Ajax win would likely be achieved after both teams score.