Chelsea host Ajax in the third Champions League ‘league phase’ match on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues hammered Nottingham Forest 3-0 last time out as captain Reece James marked his 200th appearance with a goal and assist.
Enzo Maresca’s men got their first win in this competition against Benfica as Richard Rios’ own goal sealed the victory for Chelsea in José Mourinho’s homecoming and currently sit 18th in the Champions League standings.
Ajax have struggled, currently languishing in 35th place in the Champions League table with two losses from two.
The Dutch side opened their campaign with a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan, followed by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Marseille last time out.
**Match preview**
This is the third European meeting between Chelsea and Ajax, having met twice in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League group stage; the Blues won 1-0 in Amsterdam before a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Ajax are winless in their last 11 major European matches against English teams (D2 L9) since a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in April 2019. They’ve failed to score a single goal in any of their last five, since a Mohammed Kudus goal against Liverpool in September 2022.
Chelsea have lost just two of their last 12 UEFA Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge (W9 D1), both of which were against Real Madrid in quarter-finals in 2021/22 and 2022/23. The Blues are unbeaten in their last 12 group games at Stamford Bridge (W8 D4) since a Valencia victory back in September 2019.
The Ajacieden have lost their last five major European competition matches (three in the UEFA Europa League last season and the first two Champions League games this season). They haven’t lost six in a row since doing so between April 1988 and September 1989.
With Ajax on a five-game losing run in major European competition, this will be the seventh time Chelsea have faced a team who’ve lost their last 5+ games in Europe.
John Heitinga has lost his first two UEFA Champions League matches as manager, the first Ajax boss to ever do that.
Chelsea are competing in the Champions League for the 20th season and the first since reaching the quarter-finals in 2022/23. They’ve made the knockout stage in each of their past eight appearances.
The Blues will be playing their 200th Champions League proper game. They’ve won 102 and lost 45 of the previous 199.
Ajax are also hitting a landmark, making their 250th top-level European match.
**Team news**
**Chelsea**
Long-term absentees Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer and Benoit Badiashile miss out on this fixture with injuries.
Enzo Fernandez is in a race against time to be fit for this game after he left international duty early last week with a knee injury.
João Pedro is suspended for this game after he received a second yellow card and was sent off against Benfica.
**Ajax**
Owen Wijndal will be missing after picking up an injury in Ajax’s last Champions League game.
Whilst Branco van den Boomen and Kasper Dolberg will also miss out due to injuries.
**Predicted line-ups**
**Chelsea**: Robert Sánchez, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, Roméo Lavia, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Facundo Buonanotte, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrique George.
**Ajax**: Vítezslav Jaros, Lucas Rosa, Ko Itakura, Youri Baas, Jorthy Mokio, Davy Klaassen, Youri Regeer, Kenneth Taylor, Oliver Edvardsen, Mika Godts, Oscar Gloukh.