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3rd Dec 2012 | Football

Real Madrid v Ajax Tip

The Spaniards have absolutely nothing to play for while Ajax crave Europa League football - they host the final.

Odds of 9/1 (Bet365) on an Ajax win are far too long when you consider that Real Madrid have nothing at all to play for. Mourinho is bound to rotate his squad with second place in Group D assured but with Borussia Dortmund uncatchable.

The very fact that Dortmund are going to progress in top spot tells us that Real have not been at their brilliant best. Furthermore, in such a tough group, Ajax are clearly not the mugs that the bookies have them down as. They were superior to Man City for long periods over their two encounters and held Dortmund for 87 minutes in their own back yard.

Perhaps the crucial thing to consider here though is that the Dutch have an extra incentive to succeed at the Bernabeu. They can only ensure their progression to the Europa League with a victory on Tuesday night. Otherwise, they will be dependent on Manchester City slipping up in Germany against opponents with equally little to play for. The difference is that Ajax host the Europa League Final this year so they would dearly love to be there.

Frank de Boer can take encouragement from the fact that the Amsterdam club have won on two of their five trips to the Bernabeu previously. Having lost only one of their last five European away games (W2 D2 L1) they are massively over-priced here.

Odds correct at time of publishing: 12:07 3rd Dec, 2012 but subject to change

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