At the Johan Cruyff Arena on 25 November 2025, Ajax welcome Benfica in a Champions League meeting between two sides enduring a surprisingly poor European campaign, each still looking for their first points in the group stage.
Ajax Under Pressure as the Slide Continues
Ajax’s struggles under Johnny Heitinga have deepened in recent weeks. The team failed again over the weekend in domestic action and continues to concede goals too easily in Europe, suffering several heavy defeats in the process. Confidence is low, and although Ajax remain capable of producing attacking moments at home, their defensive instability makes every match an uphill battle.
Benfica Hoping Mourinho Finds the Formula
Benfica are also in crisis, carrying four consecutive Champions League losses into this fixture. José Mourinho has yet to imprint the stability and pragmatism usually associated with his teams, and Benfica look far from their usual competitive European selves. Still, the weaknesses shown by Ajax may offer an opportunity for the visitors to finally stop the rot. Benfica’s attack, though inconsistent, retains enough individual quality to trouble an Ajax defence that has been leaking goals.
Prediction: BTTS – yes
With both sides desperate and defensively unreliable, chances are bound to emerge at both ends in what should be an open contest driven by urgency rather than control.
