Juventus vs Ajax 17/04/19

17 April 2019

A 1-1 draw in Amsterdam last midweek means Juventus and Atalanta have everything to play for in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals tie, as the Bianconeri welcome the Lancers to the Allianz Stadium.

After failing to advance to the semi-finals in both of their previous Champions League appearances, the Serie A giants look to stretch their outstanding 13-game home unbeaten run across all competitions (W12, D1) and move one step closer towards lifting their elusive first Champions League trophy in the 21st century. Ever since a 2-1 home loss to Manchester United in the CL group stage, the Allianz Stadium has become a fortress, with the Old Lady beating their rivals to nil in nine of their last 12 competitive home triumphs. What’s more, all three of Juventus’ CL home victories have seen them kept a clean sheet while scoring precisely three goals twice in the process. Massimiliano Allegri’s players have also managed to entertain their home supporters in the recent period, with six of their previous seven competitive home outings featuring over 2.5 goals.

Meanwhile, the visitors head to this midweek’s fixture off the back of an astonishing 6-2 home win over Excelsior in the Dutch championship as they aim to break into their first Champions League semis in the 3rd millennium. Still unbeaten away from home in the Champions League (W2, L2) go in search of their elusive first competitive win over Juventus in the 21^st century (D2, L3). Ajax’s impressive attacking output in their previous five competitive games (19 goals scored) gives them a legitimate right to hope for a positive outcome here. A potential worry for Erik ten Hag could, however, be the Lancers’ indifferent road form in 2019, with the Dutch giants pulling off five wins in eight competitive encounters since the turn of the year (W5, L3). Outstandingly, five of their eight road clashes in that period have produced over 4.5 goals with both sides finding the net in each.