Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Ajax Women and Chelsea Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Chelsea Women will travel to the Netherlands for Tuesday’s meeting with Ajax Women in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League last-16 tie.
The hosts are making their first appearance in the knockout rounds, while the Blues are competing in the last eight for the third time in four seasons.
Match preview
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Ajax became the first Dutch side to appear in the Women’s Champions League group stage when they ousted Dinamo-BGU and Zurich in the qualifying rounds.
Not content with their work in qualifying, Ajax managed to successfully negotiate a tough group to become just the second Dutch side to reach the quarter-finals after Saestum previously achieved the feat in 2006-07.
Ajax won three and drew one of their six group games (L2) to finish ahead of Bayern Munich and Roma and just behind group winners Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference.
Suzanne Bakker’s side have been presented with a tough draw against the reigning English champions, but they will fancy their chances of gaining a first-leg advantage after winning all three of their home group games against PSG, Bayern and Roma.
They will also carry significant momentum into Tuesday’s contest, having won each of their last eight competitive matches, including a 5-1 victory in Thursday’s KNVB Women’s Cup game against their own reserve side.
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Emma Hayes has won every domestic trophy available during her successful 12-year tenure as Chelsea boss, but she has been unable to claim the Champions League crown during her stay in West London.
With the Chelsea manager set to leave at the end of the season, she has one final chance to go all the way in European competition after her side eased through the group phase.
The Blues won four and drew two of their six matches to finish three points clear at the top of Group D, setting up a quarter-final clash with Ajax and a potential semi-final meeting with either Barcelona or Brann.
Having won all of their previous four quarter-final appearances, Chelsea will be favourites to get the better of Ajax over the next two legs, especially with home advantage in their favour for the return fixture on March 27.
First, they must negotiate a difficult game at the Amsterdam Arena, and they will certainly travel to the Netherlands in a positive mood after they cruised to a 3-1 win over Arsenal in Friday’s title clash, with a Lauren James effort and a Sjoeke Nusken brace proving enough to claim all three points and keep Chelsea above second-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
Ajax Women Women’s Champions League form:
Ajax Women form (all competitions):
Chelsea Women Women’s Champions League form:
Chelsea Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Ajax have left Ashleigh Weerden out of the Champions League squad for the knockout stages after the forward recently sustained a knee injury.
Sherida Spitse received three yellow cards in the group stage and will now miss the first leg through suspension.
Having scored eight goals in her last five club appearances, Romee Leuchter will be looking to continue her fine run of form when she leads the line against Chelsea.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Millie Bright, Aniek Nouwen, Maren Mjelde, Nathalie Bjorn, Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr.
January addition Mayra Ramirez remains a doubt for the European fixture after missing the last two matches due to an injury issue.
Catarina Macario will continue to provide a useful option off the bench, having featured as a substitute in three of Chelsea’s last four matches following her return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Ajax Women possible starting lineup:
Van Eijk; De Klonia, Kardinaal, De Sanders, Keijzer; Noordam, Van Gool, Yohannes; Grant, T Hoekstra, Leuchter
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Perisset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; Rytting Kaneryd, Nusken, Reiten; James
We say: Ajax Women 2-2 Chelsea Women
Chelsea may be a stronger squad than their hosts on paper, but we think the Blues will have to be content with a first-leg draw against an Ajax side that enjoyed significant success in their three home group matches earlier this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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