Bayern Munich travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday night as they lock horns with Ajax in the final Group E match of the Champions League.
Bayern currently top the group on 13 points, but Ajax could go ahead of the German champions should they clinch three points.
The Dutch outfit are two points behind Bayern at present, having won three matches, drawn twice and avoided defeat. Likewise, Niko Kovac is yet to taste defeat in the competition, winning four and drawing once.
Both Bayern and Ajax have already secured qualification to the knockout stages of the competition, but there is still much to play for, as Kovac and Erik ten Hag go head-to-head in a one-match shoutout for top spot.
Read on for Ajax vs Bayern Munich live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats, and TV channel info.
When is Ajax vs Bayern Munich?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena
Date: Wednesday 12th December
Kick-off: 8:00 PM GMT
Match Preview
Bayern Munich have endured a disappointing start to the season under Kovac. Currently, they are third in the Bundesliga and some nine points off Borussia Dortmund, so the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be desperate to impress in Europe.
If the Bavarians’ domestic form has been underwhelming this season, their continental form has been anything but. They are unbeaten in Group E – though some would argue it is hardly a challenging group for the club – and sitting pretty at the top.
Ajax themselves are also in the shadow on home territory, currently sitting second in the Eredivisie behind last year’s winners PSV Eindhoven, and so, Erik ten Hag will be keen to ensure his side perform well in Europe.
That task could be made all the more easier should they win Group E, but they face stern competition in Bayern, who have won the current format of the competition twice (2001 and 2013).
Before a ball was kicked, many were tipping Benfica to progress through the group stages and reach the latter rounds. However, it has been Ajax who have impressed, and Erik ten Hag will be heartened by his side’s valiant 1-1 draw with Bayern earlier in their campaign.
Despite having a somewhat off-season, travelling to the Allianz Arena under any circumstances and clinching a point is a very commendable achievement for any club, let alone de Godenzonen.
Clinching three points from the fixture will be an astronomical task for Ajax, though, and Bayern are sure to bring their A-game for this high-stakes encounter. Ten Hag’s men are yet to lose on home soil in any competition this season, so will certainly fancy their chances.
Where can I watch live?
Ajax vs Bayern Munich can be viewed by UK residents on BT Sport Extra 2. BT Sport subscribers can also watch the game online at sport.bt.com and via their BT Sport app.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV for US-based viewers.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
Can Ajax continue formidable home form?
The Johan Cruijff Arena has been a sanctuary for Ajax this season, but they face a different beast altogether when they play host the Bavarians on Wednesday evening.
They have been resolute at the back, conceding only seven goals in the league, the joint-best return alongside PSV, while they have also only conceded twice in the Champions League, again the joint-best alongside Bayern.
That record is, in part, down to the magnificent defending of teenage sensation Matthijs de Ligt, who has been strongly linked with a move to Bayern, while former Manchester United player Daley Blind has also proven a shrewd acquisition since returning over the summer.
It will be a difficult challenge, but Ten Hag’s men kept the Bavarians at bay for 86 minutes, having conceded after four minutes, in the return fixture earlier this season, and could well stand firm again.
Are Bayern starting to pick back up?
It has been a strenuous few months for Kovac, but his side are currently enjoying a three-match winning run, including the 3-0 thumping of Nuremberg at the weekend, so are we perhaps starting to see a more recognisable Bayern side?
Robert Lewandowski has scored four goals in those three matches, and will certainly back himself to add to his already-impressive tally on Wednesday, having netted six goals in the competition this season.
And so, it appears as though things are starting to come together for Kovac, and if results continue to work in his favour, then the 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund last month will be but a distant memory.
Will Erik ten Hag rest key players?
With qualification already secured Ten Hag may be tempted to rest key players for this fixture as his side look to win a first Eredivisie title for fours years. Given the a crucial match against De Graafschap on Sunday, that possibility may turn to reality.
Kasper Dolberg, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek are all carrying slight knocks, and so Ten Hag could choose to omit them from his first-team through fear of losing them to long-term injuries.
“I think you always come across something. Fortunately, we have a large squad, which enables us to take care of injuries,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“Last weekend [at PEC Zwolle] we played on artificial grass, or an ice rink if you like. At the highest level, these kinds of fields do not belong. Unfortunately this is the case in the Netherlands.
“We hope that we have everyone on board to take the fight, but we have to wait for the last training sessions, we have no certainty.
“The first place in the group is important. You can create a better starting position in this. But we also have to deal with a competition.
“We have to make a good assessment. We cannot exclude anything.”
Head To Head
Ajax vs Bayern Munich has been contested nine times in the history of the sport, with Ajax winning three of those encounters, Bayern also winning three matches, and both sides drawing on three occasions.
Ajax wins: 3
Draws: 3
Bayern Munich wins: 3
Team News
As mentioned Kasper Dolberg, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek are all slight doubts for the match, but could feature, while Lasse Schone is also expected to be fit for the clash.
Defender Joel Veltman and striker Hassane Bande remain long-term absentees for Ajax.
For Bayern, James Rodriguez still remains absent, as does Corentin Tolisso, but Kovac will be buoyed for the journey as he has no fresh injuries concerns heading into the match.
Predicted Ajax XI: Onana; Tagliafico, De Ligt, Blind, Mazraoui; Van de Beek, De Jong, Schone; Tadic, Neres, Huntelaar.
Predicted Bayern XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Sule, Boateng, Alaba; Gnabry, Kimmich, Goretzka, Ribery, Muller; Lewandowski.
Squawka Prediction
With the possibility of Ten Hag resting players, Bayern should win this fixture comfortably. But should the Ajax coach name a strong XI, then Bayern could have problems, as this is a side who know how to defend, and know how to defend well.
Ultimately Kovac cannot afford to lose another match, and with the Bavarians in good form of late, coupled with the world-class talent they have, Ajax will struggle to overcome the Germans. 0-2 Bayern.
Ajax vs Bayern Munich betting tips from FansBet
This is a straight shootout for top spot in Group E. Bayern currently hold a two-point lead with a draw being enough to secure first place, but that certainly won’t deter them from going all out for the full three points. The German giants look to have finally found their rhythm after a sticky start, recording a 5-1 Champions League triumph over fellow group members Benfica, before going on to beat both Werder Bremen and Nurnberg domestically.
On the other hand, Ajax may have won 12 of their 13 unbeaten home games in all competitions this term, but not a single one of those matches came against opposition up to Bayern’s standards.
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