UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League semi-finals have finally arrived, and after over nine months of action, the final four teams in Europe's top tournament are now one step close to the ultimate prize in club competition.

The first legs are crucial for the home sides' chances of advancement, and it will be necessary for each host to take the lead into the second leg or their chances of lifting silverware in June will be significantly affected.

Tottenham vs. Ajax
White Hart Lane, London, England
TNT - SKY Sports - Telemundo
4-30-2019 - 3:00 pm ET - 8:00 pm GMT

The opening match of the semi-finals features two clubs who got little consideration to advance this far, but now with the opportunity to crash the party, Tottenham and Ajax are playing with house money as they continue their voyage towards a Champions League trophy.

Tottenham limps into this final four clash with little rest under their belts. Playing their seventh match within a twenty-two-day span, Spurs must now summon even more energy as a fully rested Ajax side come to town.

Mauricio Pochettino has led his squad to their first ever semi-finals appearance, after taking over the managerial responsibilities in 2014, the Argentine headman has done a fantastic job in turning his current team around, and injecting a winning culture going forward in the future.

Spurs Health Concerns

The English side comes in having endured a tough stretch during April, most notably losing their central tallies-man Harry Kane with an ankle injury against Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Now the remaining players must pick up the slack and help lead the north Londoner's to a first leg victory.

The hosts will also be missing key contributors Serge Aurier and Harry Winks, while Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen are game-time decisions, as the back-line combo would be a major miss if not able to offer support against the Dutchmen's vaunted attack.

Pochettino was also dealt an additional blow when super-sub Son Heung-Min picked up a yellow card accumulation, placing the South Korean on the bench with a suspension and limiting Tottenham's explosive options in front of goal. Heung-Min's twenty club goals on the season will be a major miss, especially in the open field where he is most dangerous, allowing Spurs to strike in a moments notice.

Lucas Moura now gets the call to lead the Londoner's front-line. The pacey Brazilian is not a bad option to have within Spurs plan of attack, also able to create havoc when giving space to roam, his ability to get behind Ajax's defense and finish his chances in front of goal will be critical towards a first-leg victory.

Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are available for duty. The midfield pairing will offer support to Moura going forward, their rare abilities with the ball at their feet give Spurs plenty of options when moving forward in attack. This combination of world-class players must show their real qualities on the largest of stages, genuinely having enough class to carry the hosts past the finish line.

Tottenham picked up their first loss at the new White Hart Lane over the weekend, and their overall performance raised eyes with such a big match on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how this resilient club responds, with plenty of questions asked at the moment, will they have the answers when this match kicks off.

Ajax arrives in London the scariest team remaining in the field. Although the Dutch-men have a plethora of youngsters throughout their rotation, they bring unmatched energy on the pitch, always placing pressure on their opponents on both sides of the ball.

Erik ten Hag also has to be commended for reinvigorating this highly successful club, his influence over this talented side has been well received, as he continues to build one of the more impressive units in the world.

Ajax's No Fear Approach

The Lancers have faced some of the biggest clubs on the planet over the last two rounds, dispatching of both in a reasonably convincing manner, giving them plenty of confidence as they match up with a wounded Tottenham side.

Three fierce forwards lead the Ajax front-line, with Dusan Tadic, Hakeem Ziyech, and David Neres responsible for finding the back of the net. Spurs will have their hands full containing their continuous motion, each able to distribute the ball and find the open man in space, their dual-threat capabilities will place a significant strain on Tottenham's defensive structure.

Team Prop
Ajax - Team Total Over 1  -125 / 1.8 

Frenkie de Jong will draw a large amount of attention as well. The Dutch wonder-kid has shined during this extended Champions League run, drawing the attention of FC Barcelona who signed him to their squad over the winter, his unique abilities will be on display for all to witness, a mature defender who can also set the offense into motion with pin-point passing.

Ajax comes in having over a week of rest in preparation for this huge event, failing to taste defeat in 17 of their last 18 Champions League outings, they continue to turn the doubters into believers, we will see how they handle having high expectations in Tuesday's European contest.

Tottenham vs. Ajax - Match Prediction

There is plenty of intrigues as the opening whistle arrives, with Europe's young hotshots, squaring off with an established EPL side, we are sure to see plenty of action over this two-legged event.

Tottenham must use the new White Hart Lane to their advantage, understanding they are missing their top goals scorers, the need for a unified effort from all available members is a necessity, Pochettino must devise an extraordinary game plan to grab a first-leg advantage.

Spurs have been sluggish in attack as of late, but when motivated they are as dangerous as any team in the field, using the counter-attack to perfection, they have averaged 1.8 goals in front of their home supporters, they will be required to score to keep pace with this unrelenting Lancers squad.

Ajax will test Spurs every chance they get, using their electric wingers to flood the flanks, then find the open runners in front of goal, their clinical skills in the final third of pitch has been quite impressive.

The Eredivisie side has also enjoyed their time on the road, scoring a gaudy two goals per match, they have proved they will score regardless of their surroundings.

Match Prop
Both Teams To Score - Yes   -135 / 1.74

The first-legs of the previous two rounds produced several low scoring matches, with teams bunkering down wanting to limit any damage before the second leg. I anticipate a more open affair for this particular matchup, with Tottenham knowing they must score goals with a trip to the Netherlands on the horizon, while Ajax only knows one way to play, pedal to the metal for a full 90 minutes, wanting to dispatch of Spurs as soon as possible.

Tottenham vs. Ajax - Betting Tips

Over  1  -105 / 1.95  - 1H Goal
Over  2.5  -105 / 1.95 - FT Goals

Odd Provided By Bovada

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