The last time Ajax and Benfica squared off came in two group stage matches in the 2018 UEFA Champions League. Just over three years later, the two clubs will play a pair of games in the top European competition, but the stakes are higher since they’ll meet in the Round of 16. Benfica will begin its quest to advance beyond the Last 16 for the first time in club history, while Ajax will resume its journey to win a second Champions League title. You can see what happens in the first leg of their series when you stream the match live on Paramount+.
Kickoff from Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, is set for 3 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Ajax as the -127 favorite (risk $127 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Ajax vs. Benfica odds, while Benfica is a +325 underdog. A draw is priced at +290 and the over-under for total goals scored is 2.5. Wednesday’s match will be streamed live on Paramount+ with their must-have Premium plan.
Paramount+ now has levels of membership so you can watch the UEFA Champions League and much more. The Premium Plan is $9.99 per month and you can watch your local CBS live stream (including plenty of sports like SEC on CBS, NFL on CBS, and the PGA Tour), no ads, on demand and the ability to download episodes for offline viewing. Both plans come with a free week to start, so sign up now here.
How to watch Benfica vs. Ajax
- Ajax vs. Benfica date: Wednesday, February 23
- Ajax vs. Benfica time: 3 p.m. ET
- Ajax vs. Benfica streaming: Paramount+
UEFA Champions League picks for Ajax vs. Benfica
Before you tune in to Wednesday’s match, you need to see the Ajax vs. Benfica picks from SportsLine’s European soccer insider Martin Green. After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated well over $37,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
For Benfica vs. Ajax, Green is picking Ajax to win at -118 odds. Since a rare league loss to AZ Alkmaar following its final UCL group match, Ajax has ripped off 10 consecutive victories by a combined score of 37-1. In its third round match against Dutch Keuken Kampioen Divisie club Excelsior, Danilo Pereira scored four goals in a 9-0 Ajax win.
More recently, Ajax welcomed back Ivory Coast forward Sebastien Haller, who was away from the team to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. Prior to his international duty, he had scored four goals in four matches, and upon his return, he netted a hat trick against FC Tewnte. That followed a goal-scoring performance in his first game back with Ajax on February 6, and he will be looked at as the top attacking threat for the Dutch side on Wednesday.
“Benfica has paired 34-year-old Nicolás Otamendi with fellow 34-year-old Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defense,” Green told SportsLine. “Both men are well past their prime. They are still strong in the air and tough in the tackle, but they lack pace and mobility.”
How to watch, live stream UEFA Champions League on Paramount+
Now that you know what to pick, get ready to watch the Champions League. Visit Paramount+ now to see the UEFA Champions League, your live local CBS sporting events, some of the world’s other top soccer matchups and much more.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism