Champions League Betting: Tottenham 5/2 to qualify after Ajax secure first leg advantage

Ajax seized the early advantage in their Champions League semi-final clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Donny van de Beek scored the early goal of the game, but it could have been even worse for a Spurs side that struggled to land a blow despite home advantage.

Missing several key attacking weapons including Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, the hosts failed to score in a Champions League game for the first time in 21 attempts.

bet365's latest Champions League betting makes Mauricio Pochettino's men 5/2 (3.50) underdogs to qualify from the tie. The early odds for the second leg see the English side as 12/5 (3.40) shots to win at the Amsterdam Arena, the only outcome that will keep Spurs' hopes alive.

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Only one of the previous 16 teams to lose the first leg at home in a Champions League or European cup semi-final has progressed so history is against the visitors. By coincidence, Ajax were the only team to overcome such a deficit back in 1995-96.

The Dutch side are just 2/7 (1.29) to seal their spot in Madrid on June 1 and there has been early money for Erik ten Hag's men to do so in style. Originally a 6/5 (2.20) chance to win in front of their own fans, bet365 have clipped that price to 23/20 (2.15).

bet365's Steve Freeth commented: “Ajax have added Spurs to the away day scalps of Real Madrid and Juventus in what has been an outstanding Champions League campaign for a side quoted at 200/1 in the outright betting before the start of the group stage.

“Spurs backers will be hoping for another fightback similar to the one we saw when looking down and out after 3 group games.”

Goal

Indeed, Pochettino's side had taken just one point from their opening trio of matches in this year's competition and had a mountain to climb to qualify. However, wins over PSV and Inter combined with a valuable point at the Camp Nou was enough to see them through to the knockout stages.

Barcelona remain the team to beat in this year's competition, according to the bookmakers. bet365 go 6/4 (2.50) that the Catalan giants are crowned kings of Europe for the first time since 2015 ahead of their semi-final clash with Liverpool getting underway.

Having been beaten by Real Madrid in last season's final, Jurgen Klopp's men are 9/4 (3.25) to go one better this year. Whoever emerges from that meeting looks set to start the showpiece finale at the Wanda Metropolitano as favourites.

Ajax have been cut from 4/1 (5.0) to 11/4 (3.75) in the latest outright betting with Spurs drifting to 9/1 (10.0) to go all the way.

Odds correct at the time of publish. Please gamble responsibly.