The curtains will fall on Matchday 3 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The action on the day will start with two simultaneous games before ending with seven simultaneous matches, including Chelsea vs Ajax at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea kicked things off in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League with an uninspiring performance that ended in a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. However, Enzo Maresca’s men bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win over SL Benfica. That has kick-started a three-match winning run, with two of those victories taking the Blues to fifth in the Premier League standings.
As for Ajax, the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign has been dreadful, as they have lost their first two games. The Eredivisie giants have also been inconsistent in domestic football, managing only four wins in nine league games thus far. The recent winless run has left John Heitinga’s men fourth on the table.
Chelsea and Ajax have previously faced off twice, with the Blues yet to lose a game in those clashes (W1 D1). The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Enzo Maresca has a new roster issue that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager may be bereft of the services of as many as eight first-team players vs Ajax on Wednesday.
Joao Pedro is the latest absentee, with the Brazilian international serving a suspension after being sent off against SL Benfica on Matchday 2. The former Brighton & Hove Albion attacker has joined Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (muscular), Dario Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Maresca is sweating over Enzo Fernandez’s fitness, as the Argentine midfielder is recovering from a minor knee injury. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable due to a suspension after he failed a doping test several months ago.
Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Ajax on Wednesday. The backline will feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, with the latter resuming training this week. Facundo Buonanotte will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian being the two wide attackers. Finally, Tyrique George will lead the line for Chelsea against Ajax on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Neto; George
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Johnny Heitinga has new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Ajax manager will be without three first-team players on Wednesday.
Kasper Dolberg is the most notable absentee, with the Danish striker recovering from an abdominal issue. Owen Wijndal is the latest absentee after picking up a muscular problem this past weekend against AZ Alkmaar. Meanwhile, Branco van den Boomen is struggling with a back injury.
Vitezslav Jaros will take his spot between the sticks, with Ajax lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Wednesday. The backline will feature Anton Gaaei, Josip Sutalo, Youri Baas, and Lucas Rosa.
As for the midfield unit, Davy Klaassen will line up alongside Kenneth Taylor in the double pivot. Oscar Gloukh will reprise the no. 10 role, with Oliver Edvardsen and Mika Godts being the two wide attackers. Finally, Wout Weghorst will spearhead the Ajax attack against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jaros; Gaaei, Sutalo, Baas, Rosa; Klaassen, Taylor; Edvardsen, Gloukh, Godts; Weghorst
While Pedro Neto, Wout Weghorst, and Oscar Gloukh were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Moises Caicedo as the Player to Watch for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash between Chelsea and Ajax at Stamford Bridge.
Only two players have made more tackles in this season’s UEFA Champions League than Caicedo (9). The Ecuadorian international made more tackles than any other player across Matchday 2, producing seven in the win over Benfica. With Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer missing, Enzo Maresca will bank on the solidity that Caicedo provides to build a base for a win.
Ajax may have struggled in the early stages of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, but they will take the game to Chelsea this midweek. Additionally, the hosts are missing crucial attackers, and they will sorely feel the absence of Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer on Wednesday.
So, while there is a significant gulf in quality between the two sides, a win will not be straightforward for the home side. However, Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian should combine to deliver the goods. The Hard Tackle thus predicts a 1-0 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
