Chelsea face the toughest test of their Champions League group as they travel to Amsterdam to face four-time winners Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Ajax had a fantastic season last year, winning the Eredivisie and KNVB Beker, while also making it to the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League.
Despite the loss of big name players like Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona and Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus, Ajax have managed to keep hold of their rising stars, and look very strong again this season.
Ajax beat their archrivals PSV in the Super Cup this year to earn even more silverware, and currently sit top of the Eredivisie after 10 games.
De Godenzonen are unbeaten in 19 competitive games, and this form has carried onto the Champions League, as Ajax earned a 3-0 victory at home against Lille, and another 3-0 victory away to Valencia.
This is what elite club football is like, and Chelsea’s young side should relish this opportunity as they face a giant of European football.
The Chelsea of this season have similarities with this Ajax squad in the sense that it is predominantly made up of youth, with a few experienced players scattered throughout the team.
We’ve taken a closer look at where the key battles are in this game and how it could be won and lost.
