The UEFA Champions League is back with a mouthwatering midweek clash as Chelsea welcome Ajax to Stamford Bridge on October 22, 2025. This fixture marks Chelsea’s 200th game in the competition’s history and Ajax’s 250th top-tier European outing, blending nostalgia with high stakes in the league phase. With both teams desperate for points—Chelsea sitting 18th and Ajax 35th in the standings—this encounter could define their European campaigns. Dive into our comprehensive Chelsea vs Ajax preview, covering head-to-head stats, key insights, predicted lineups, and a score prediction.
Chelsea vs Ajax Head-to-Head
Chelsea and Ajax have locked horns just three times in competitive fixtures, producing some of the most thrilling Champions League nights in recent memory. Their encounters date back to the 2018-19 group stage, but the real fireworks exploded in the 2019-20 round of 16.
Here’s a quick breakdown of their head-to-head record:
| Date | Competition | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2019 | UCL Round of 16 | Draw | 4-4 |
| Oct 23, 2019 | UCL Round of 16 | Chelsea Win | 1-0 |
| Oct 20, 2018 | UCL Group Stage | Ajax Win | 1-0 |
- Overall Stats: 1 win for Chelsea, 1 for Ajax, 1 draw. Goals: Chelsea 5, Ajax 4.
- Key Highlights: The 2019 Stamford Bridge thriller saw Ajax lead 4-1 with two men sent off, only for Chelsea to claw back for a 4-4 draw in a nine-man epic managed by Erik ten Hag. Chelsea edged the first leg 1-0 in Amsterdam, showcasing their resilience.
- Recent Trends: Chelsea remain unbeaten against Dutch sides in the UCL (W3 D1 L0), while Ajax are winless in their last 11 major European games against English teams (D2 L9), failing to score in the last five.
These meetings underline a rivalry of narrow margins and high drama, but Chelsea’s home dominance could tip the scales this time.
Chelsea vs Ajax Match Preview
Chelsea head into this UCL showdown on a high, chasing a fourth straight win across all competitions after a gritty 1-0 victory over Benfica in Matchday 2, followed by domestic triumphs over Liverpool (2-1) and Nottingham Forest (3-0). Enzo Maresca’s side sit fifth in the Premier League, blending youthful flair with defensive solidity—Moisés Caicedo leads the UCL in tackles with nine this season. However, injuries and suspensions plague the Blues: Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, and Dario Essugo are out, while João Pedro serves a ban after his red card against Benfica. Enzo Fernández could return from a knee knock, adding midfield creativity.
Contrast that with Ajax’s woes under new boss John Heitinga, who succeeded the sacked Maurice Steijn after a dismal start. The four-time European champions are pointless in the UCL, thrashed 2-0 by Inter and 4-0 by Marseille without scoring. Domestically, they’re third in the Eredivisie but reeling from a 2-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar, conceding twice in each of their last six games. Absences include Kasper Dolberg, Branco van den Boomen, Owen Wijndal, Youri Regeer, and Steven Berghuis, thinning their ranks further.
Match Details:
- Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 8:00 PM BST
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea vs Ajax Predicted Lineups
Enzo Maresca favors a 4-2-3-1, rotating to manage suspensions and injuries, with Malo Gusto starting ahead of his Premier League ban. Ajax, under Heitinga, deploys a flexible 4-2-3-1, relying on veterans like Davy Klaassen amid defensive reshuffles.
Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Estêvão, Buonanotte, Neto; George.
Ajax Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jaros; Gaaei, Šutalo, Baas, Rosa; Klaassen, Taylor; Edvardsen, Gloukh, Godts; Weghorst.
Chelsea vs Ajax Score Prediction
Chelsea’s attacking depth—seven goals in their last three wins—meets Ajax’s leaky defense (2.3 goals conceded per away game). The visitors’ goalless UCL run (two matches) and failure to score against English sides in five straight suggest a clean sheet for the hosts, who blanked opponents in two of their last three.
Our Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Ajax.
