Chelsea vs Ajax prediction 22.10.2025 | UEFA Champions League

Chelsea enter this fixture with mixed fortunes but also some encouraging signs. They have recently registered consecutive Premier League victories and will look to build on that momentum in Europe. An impressive 2-1 home win against reigning English champions Liverpool just before the October international break was followed by their fourth Premier League win of the season last weekend - a convincing 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest.

In the Champions League, Chelsea began their group-stage campaign with a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich but bounced back on Matchday 2 by defeating Benfica 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been particularly strong at home over the past year, suffering only two defeats in their last 20 matches at Stamford Bridge and scoring in 19 of those 20 fixtures - an impressive record that underscores their attacking consistency on home soil.

In terms of injuries, Cole Palmer has been ruled out for another six weeks with a groin problem, representing a significant blow to their attacking options. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernández missed the win over Nottingham Forest due to injury and remains doubtful for this match.

Ajax have endured a difficult start to their European campaign. In the current Champions League season, they have lost to Inter Milan (2-0) and Marseille (4-0), failing to register a point in their first two matches. Domestically, their form has been equally inconsistent - their defence has leaked goals, and their overall win rate has dropped considerably in recent weeks. They are winless in their last three matches across all competitions and have managed just one victory from a possible six since mid-September.

Ajax’s away form has also been a major concern for nearly a year now. The runners-up of the 2024/25 Eredivisie season have collected only two wins from their last ten away games across all competitions since mid-March, conceding heavily in that stretch. Although they have failed to score in only two away fixtures during that period, their defensive issues have been glaring - they have conceded an average of 2.3 goals per match on their travels.

In terms of availability, Ajax are also dealing with several absences. Owen Wijndal, Youri Regeer, Branco van den Boomen, and Kasper Dolberg will all be unavailable for this fixture, further compounding their selection problems.