Chelsea host Ajax in the Champions League tonight looking to continue the momentum they have built up over the last three games.
The Blues have beaten Benfica, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in successive matches and are building some consistency for boss Enzo Maresca. They have scored six goals in those wins and conceded just once - against Premier League champions Liverpool.
A bruising 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich got their Champions League campaign off to a poort start but they rectified that result by beating Benfica last time out. A victory over Ajax would propel them up the table and leave them in a good position for the remainder of the league phase.
The Dutch side have not won in three games and lost both of their Champions League outings so far. That leaves Chelsea as favourites to win this evening but Maresca will know a positive performance is also required from his team.
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Chelsea vs Ajax live
- Chelsea take on Ajax in the Champions League | Live on TNT Sports
- 48' GOAL! George comes off the bench and scores (CHE 5-1 AJX)
- 45+6' GOAL! Estevao converts Chelsea's second penalty (CHE 4-1 AJX)
- 45' GOAL! Fernandez restores two goal cushion with penalty (CHE 3-1 AJX)
- 33' GOAL! Weghorst socre from penalty spot (CHE 2-1 AJX)
- 27' GOAL! Caicedo doubles lead with shot from range (CHE 2-0 AJX)
- 18' GOAL! Guiu sends Chelsea ahead 90 seconds after red card (CHE 1-0 AJX)
- 16' RED CARD! Kenneth Taylor sent off for lunge on Buonanotte (CHE 0-0 AJX)
Ridiculous first half
21:13
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Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“Ridiculous first half.
“Let's see what the second half has in store. Maresca's half-time triple change suggests Enzo Fernandez, at least, is being rested for Sunderland at the weekend.”
GOAL! Chelsea 5-1 Ajax (Tyrique George, 48')
21:12
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Mike Jones
One of the substitutes for Chelsea, Tyrique George, adds to the tally.
He moves beautifully into the box and receives the ball before poking it past Remko Pasveer.
Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
21:10
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Mike Jones
47 mins: Enzo Maresca has made any three changes at the break.
He’s happy with how that first half went and but wants to rest some of his key men.
Second half! Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
21:08
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Mike Jones
Chelsea get the ball rolling again at Stamford Bridge.
Will they be more ruthless and add to their tally?
HT Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
21:03
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Mike Jones
Enzo Fernandez added a third from the penalty spot:
Estevao drilled home his penalty to make it four goals before half-time for the Blues:
HT Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
21:00
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Mike Jones
Wout Weghorst pulled one back from the penalty spot:
HT Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
20:57
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Mike Jones
Marc Guiu sent Chelsea ahead after Kenneth Taylor's red card:
Moises Caicedo added a second with a deflected strike:
Half-time! Chelsea 4-1 Ajax
20:53
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Mike Jones
45+6 mins: The whistle goes to end an impossibly busy first half at Stamford Bridge.
Five goals, four for Chelsea and one to Ajax.
The visitors have also had a man sent off as well which was pretty much the catalyst for the whole thing.
What does the second half have in store?
GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Ajax (Estevao, 45+6')
20:51
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Mike Jones
Another one!
It’s another penalty and it comes to Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez hands the ball to youngster Estevao.
He blasts his spot kick into the back of the net!
Chelsea have four.
Chelsea 3-1 Ajax
20:49
,
Mike Jones
45+3 mins: There’s five minutes of added time to play at Stamford Bridge in the first half.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Ajax (Enzo Fernandez, 45')
20:46
,
Mike Jones
The Chelsea captain restores the two goal lead for the Blues.
He slots it to the goalkeeper’s left and finds the corner.
Enzo Maresca celebrates.
Penalty to Chelsea!
20:45
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea 2- 1 Ajax
44 mins: Gittens slips Fernandez into the penalty area and the Chelsea captain is cleaned out by Weghorst.
The Ajax man protests that he took the ball first but the referee points to the spot and VAR doesn’t overturn the decision.
Chelsea 2- 1 Ajax
20:42
,
Mike Jones
42 mins: When play resumes Buonanotte makes a run into the box from the right and looks for Tosin ball over the top.
The pass is a little too heavy and the attacker can’t keep it in play.
Weghorst does have a big cut on his forehead but he’s still throwing himself about. He wins a free kick after Fofana fouls him but nothing comes from the set piece.
Chelsea 2- 1 Ajax
20:39
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Mike Jones
39 mins: Weghorst and Tosin come together with the Ajax forward coming off worse.
He looks to have a cut on his head and there are some murmurings over a booking for Tosin.
That doesn’t come but there’s a break in play while Weghorst receives treatment.
Chelsea have let Ajax back in it
20:38
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Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“At 2-0 and a man up this should have been a formality for Chelsea but they have let Ajax back into it.
“And Wout Weghorst has now scored half as many goals in England for Ajax as he did for Manchester United.”
Chelsea 2- 1 Ajax
20:36
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Mike Jones
36 mins: So, Chelsea need to keep their composure. It was a simple error from Tosin which led to the penalty and the defender was booked for his effort.
The Blues will want to restore their two goal lead. Can they do so before the break?
GOAL! Chelsea 2- 1 Ajax (Wout Weghorst, 33')
20:34
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Mike Jones
Ajax pull a goal back.
Wout Weghorst takes the spot kick but it’s not a good one.
It’s low and close to Filip Jorgensen who gets a good chunk of the ball.
But, he can’t keep it out and Ajax cut the deficit to one.
Penalty to Ajax!
20:33
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Mike Jones
Chelsea 2-0 Ajax
30 mins: Raul Moro drives into the box from the right in a rare attack for Ajax.
He sends the ball away and is trod on by Tosin Adarabioyo who knocks him down.
The referee wastes no time and points to the spot.
A lifeline for the visitors?
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Ajax (Moises Caicedo, 27')
20:28
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Mike Jones
Wow!
Gittens has time on the ball on the inside left channel. He weaves inside and rolls it across to Moises Caicedo.
He has plenty of time to set himself before drilling a shot from range.
Remko Pasveer seemingly has it covered but a deflection off defender Josip Sutalo takes the ball past the diving keeper where it lands in the back of the net!
Chelsea 1-0 Ajax
20:27
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Mike Jones
25 mins: Since the goal, Chelsea are slowly started to take control of possession and dominate the ball.
They’ve upped their chances to five and are utilising the extra man well.
Jamie Gittens in particular is having a good night.
It isn't going well for Heitinga
20:26
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Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“The Ajax fans whistled when the popular Oscar Gloukh was substituted and chanted "sacked in the morning" at manager John Heitinga.
“It is an understatement to say it isn't going well for him.”
Chelsea 1-0 Ajax
20:25
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Mike Jones
21 mins: The Ajax fans are infuriated with their manager.
John Heitinga has made a change after the red card and he has taken off Oscar Gloukh - who has been Ajax’s best goalscorer of late - to bring on defensive reinforcements.
Jorthy Mokio is the man brought on.
A disaster for Ajax
20:23
,
Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“A disastrous couple of minutes for Ajax, now a goal and a man down. There was the rarity of a red card in a Chelsea game that didn't go to Chelsea.
“Then Marc Guiu was left unmarked to finish. Ajax are bottom of the league.
“If they get a point, it would leave Benfica - and Jose Mourinho - bottom so Mourinho may be glad to see his old club ahead.”
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Ajax (Marc Guiu, 18')
20:21
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Mike Jones
There’s the opener!
Marc Guiu is the goalscorer and sends Chelsea ahead just 90 seconds or so after the Ajax captain was sent off.
The ball comes into the box from the right and finds Wesley Fofana.
He nods it across the area and finds Guiu free. The striker sees the goalkeeper attempting to cover the near post and slots it past him.
Stamford Bridge erupts.
Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:18
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Mike Jones
RED CARD!
16 mins: Oh no!
Facundo Buonanotte is clattered by a lunging Kenneth Taylor.
He catches the Chelsea man just above the ankle with his studs showing. Buonanotte lands on the deck and the Ajax captain initially receives a yellow card.
The referee is quickly told to look at the replay and after one look at the incident he pulls out a red instead!
Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:16
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Mike Jones
15 mins: Quarter of an hour played.
Marc Guiu makes a nice run into the box from the inside right and receives a threaded pass.
He looks to lift it over the goalkeeper but gets charged down.
Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:13
,
Mike Jones
12 mins: Ajax come into tonight’s match sitting bottom of the league table with two losses from two.
They’ve started well but haven’t imposed much threat in Chelsea’s final third.
Chelsea are looking to get time on the ball and probe their own attacks through willing runners.
Ajax have Weghorst
20:08
,
Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“Chelsea and Ajax drew 4-4 here six years ago in a ridiculous game in which, somehow, Ajax had two players sent off for fouls in the same passage of play.
“A repeat may be unlikely but Ajax do have the guarantee of goals that is Wout Weghorst.”
Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:07
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Mike Jones
6 mins: Chelsea are looking to press high when Ajax are in possession.
The finishes play through the and find Raul Moro who slips a nice pass forward towards Taylor.
Filip Jorgensen comes out of his area to deal with the danger but Wesley Fofana takes no chances.
He nudges the ball into space and boots it clear.
Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:03
,
Mike Jones
3 mins: Chelsea’s first attack comes from the left as Jamie Gittens collects an aerial ball and weaves forward.
He floats a cross into the box which is headed clear but the Blues recover possession.
Kick off! Chelsea 0-0 Ajax
20:01
,
Mike Jones
The rain is coming down onto the Stamford Bridge pitch as Kenneth Taylor gets the ball rolling.
Ajax work it over to the right wing where their progress is halted and they’re forced to retreat.
Chelsea vs Ajax
19:56
,
Mike Jones
Here come the players.
The two teams make their way out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will be confident that they can win this match. Let’s find out of they can.
Kick off is up next...
Can Chelsea thrive without Palmer?
19:50
,
Mike Jones
“We’re doing well. We miss Cole [Palmer], he’s our best player, but we're coping well,” said Tosin Adarabioyo.
“We watched a bit of [Ajax] yesterday. Do I feel old being the oldest member of the squad? I feel 28."
'This is the stage to test ourselves'
19:45
,
Mike Jones
Ajax defender Youri Baas added: "This is the stage where you want to test yourself, against Europe's best.
“We'll go out there with full confidence in ourselves.
“Maybe this match is actually good, after not playing well in the last two games. It's a good platform to bounce back."
'We demand the utmost'
19:40
,
Mike Jones
Ajax coach, John Heitinga, said: "I know the Premier League well, along with Chelsea's strengths.
“This is a match where we have to demand the utmost from ourselves.
“We'll definitely apply pressure at times, but there will also be times when Chelsea force us back and we'll have to be well-organised.”
Teenage stars
19:35
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Mike Jones
Aged only 17 years and 214 days, Jorthy Mokio became the second youngest Ajax player to appear in the Champions League when he debuted last time out.
He was the 52nd teenager to appear in the competition for Ajax – the most of any team.
Enzo Maresca defends light-touch discipline amid red-card run
19:30
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said he favours a light touch when it comes to disciplining his young squad – just as he does when dealing with his children.
The Blues have been shown red cards in each of their last four matches and in five of their last six in all competitions, with the Italian himself dismissed at the end of the 2-1 win against Liverpool earlier this month.
Youth over experience
19:20
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea are the only side yet to give a single minute to a player aged 30+ in the Champions League this season.
Only two English sides have gone three or more games without fielding a player in their 30s – Liverpool in 2002-03 (6) and Spurs in 2016-17 (6).
A meeting of old and new
19:17
,
Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
“A meeting of new and old at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea named the second youngest starting 11 an English club has ever fielded in the Champions League (average age 22 years, 163 days).
“Ajax pick the third oldest player, recalling 41-year-old goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who is so old that when he was born, Chelsea were in the old Division 2.”
Chelsea are favourites to win
19:15
,
Mike Jones
With Ajax on a five-game losing run in major European competition, this will be the seventh time Chelsea have faced a team who’ve lost their last 5+ games in Europe.
They’ve won their previous six by an aggregate score of 14-0.
The only English teams to lose against a side on such a run are Man City in 1970 vs Linfield in the Cup Winners’ Cup and Man Utd in 2019 vs Astana in the Europa League.
A terrible run for Ajax
19:10
,
Mike Jones
Ajax have lost their last five major European competition matches (three in Europa League last season, first two Champions League games this season).
They haven’t lost six in a row since doing so between April 1988 and September 1989.
Chelsea's unbeaten streak
19:05
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea have lost just two of their last 12 Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge (nine wins, one draw D1).
Both defeats were against Real Madrid in quarter-finals in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last 12 group games at Stamford Bridge (eight wins, four draws) since a Valencia victory back in September 2019.
Enzo Maresca admits change is needed after torrent of Chelsea red cards
19:00
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has emphasised that discipline “is something that we have to improve” after his side picked up four red cards across their last six matches.
Speaking ahead of the home match against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Italian was asked whether he thinks his side has a discipline problem after sendings off in the losses to Manchester United and Brighton as well as the more recent wins over Benfica and Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea vs Ajax
18:55
,
Mike Jones
This is the third European meeting between Chelsea and Ajax, having met twice in the 2019-20 Champions group stage.
The Blues won 1-0 in Amsterdam, before a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Ajax team to take on Chelsea
18:52
,
Mike Jones
Ajax XI: Pasveer; Rosa, Sutalo, Baas, Itakura; Taylor, Gloukh, McConnell; Moro, Weghorst, Godts
All names for tonight’s Champions League match. #UCL https://t.co/X1MeOo7H7O pic.twitter.com/SqeMRwSkzO
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 22, 2025
Chelsea team to face Ajax
18:47
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Caicedo, Fofana, Adarabioyo, Hato; Lavia, Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Guiu
Your Chelsea side tonight. #CFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/DuEV8S1is8
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2025
Gambling ads featuring Lewis Hamilton and Chelsea badge banned
18:36
,
Mike Jones
Gambling adverts featuring Sir Lewis Hamilton and a Chelsea FC logo have been banned for the likelihood they would strongly appeal to children.
Adverts for two gambling firms, Kwiff and Betway, were banned after a complaint was lodged to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Chelsea will learn from Ajax clash
18:30
,
Mike Jones
“It’s a nice competition because you play against fantastic clubs,” Enzo Maresca enthused ahead of tonight’s match.
“In the first game, Bayern Munich away, we were not happy with the result, but we tried to play face to face for 90 minutes against a club that in the last six or seven years always reached the quarter-finals, semi-finals, final.
“Benfica we tried to prepare in the best way to win, which we did. When you play these kinds of clubs – Bayern, Benfica, Ajax – there are always things you can learn after the game. It’s going to be exactly the same after the final whistle against Ajax.”
No chance for Pedro
18:24
,
Mike Jones
Although he is yet to score in the Champions League for Chelsea, one of Joao Pedro’s six previous major European goals was netted against Ajax back in September 2023 in the Europa League for Brighton in a 2-0 win.
No player has ever netted against Ajax for two different English clubs in major European competition.
Pedro will no get the chance to tonight as he misses the game through suspension.
Caicedo's qualities
18:18
,
Mike Jones
Only two players have made more tackles in this season’s Champions League than Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo (9).
He made more tackles than any other player across matchday two, with seven in the win over Benfica.
Maresca on Ajax challenge
18:12
,
Mike Jones
Enzo Maresca spoke about the challenges his Chelsea team will face against Ajax tonight.
“They are a team that always tries to play in the DNA of the club so for sure it will be a tough game,” he said.
“In the past and in the present, they try to play their kind of football. Also, they are a club that has won this competition in the past, so they want to prove to everyone they are coming here to do their best to beat us – and we are going to try and do exactly the same.”
A poor record agains English sides
18:06
,
Mike Jones
Ajax are winless in their last 11 major European matches against English teams (two draws, nine defeats) since a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in April 2019.
They’ve failed to score a single goal in any of their last five, since a Mohammed Kudus goal against Liverpool in September 2022.
Chelsea legend blames ‘impossible’ pre-season for Cole Palmer injury
18:00
,
Mike Jones
Cole Palmer’s crushing injury setback is down to Chelsea’s “impossible” pre-season, according to club legend Pat Nevin.
Palmer has been dealing with a groin injury since August and after missing England’s recent internationals, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed the Blues will be without their star playmaker for another six weeks.
A clean sweep for Chelsea
17:54
,
Mike Jones
Until the advent of the Conference League in 2021/22, Chelsea and Ajax were two of just five clubs, alongside Bayern, Juventus and Man United, to have won all three major Uefa titles.
The Blues, current holders of that fourth crown, are the only team to have won all four.
How will Chelsea cope without Joao Pedro?
17:48
,
Mike Jones
“We have Marc [Guiu] and we have also Tyrique [George], who has played games as a nine in the past; he did very well previously playing in that role, such as against Benfica,” Maresca said when asked who could lead the line against Ajax.
“We trust Marc. We trusted him already last year and he was always playing and training with confidence. We gave him some Premier League minutes, which shows we trust Marc.
“Now he’s with us [following his loan recall] and he’s going to play games for us, for sure.”
Will Fernandez be fit?
17:42
,
Mike Jones
Enzo Maresca said that Chelsea would wait and see how Enzo Maresca performed in Tuesday’s training session to see if he is fit to play tonight.
“Enzo took part in the session yesterday (Monday),’ Maresca explained during his pre-match press conference.
“We have one more session and then we will decide what we will do with him [against Ajax].”
John Heitinga's record
17:38
,
Mike Jones
John Heitinga has lost his first two Champions League matches as manager, the first Ajax boss to ever do that.
Heitinga is one of four people to lose his first two games both as a player and manager in the competition with a club (with Ajax in 2003), along with Mark van Bommel at PSV, Ivan Leko at Club Brugge and Krunoslav Jurcic at Dinamo Zagreb, none of whom also lost their first three as Heitinga could do.
How Chelsea’s game of chess sparked a civil war at ‘feeder club’ Strasbourg
17:36
,
Will Castle
When Strasbourg were left bankrupt and demoted to the amateur fifth tier of French football in 2011, they were a club in crisis. Strasbourg are now vying for the Champions League. Again, they are a club in crisis.
At the epicentre of Alsace, a fiercely proud region on the French-German border, there is the sinking feeling that an identity is being lost – extracted from a football club that for so long has galvanised the masses like few manage in France. A string of alleged “deception and lies” has turned Strasbourg into an entity no longer recognised by a vocal contingent of its own people.
Chelsea vs Ajax predicted line-ups
17:30
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Acheampong , Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; George
Ajax XI: Jaros; Rosa, Gaaei, Baas, Mokio; Gloukh, Sutalo, Taylor; Edvardsen, Weghorst, Godts
Ajax's early team news
17:24
,
Mike Jones
For Ajax, Owen Wijndal has a muscular problem picked up during the defeat to Marseille and the 25-year-old remains out of contention. Branco van den Boomen is dealing with a back injury and will also miss the game.
Chelsea's early team news
17:18
,
Mike Jones
Joao Pedro will miss the Benfica match due to being suspended by a red card in the Blues’ last Champions League outing.
Chelsea are still missing Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile and Liam Delap who are all injured. Enzo Fernandez is also a doubt due to a knee problem.
How can I watch it?
17:12
,
Mike Jones
Viewers in the UK can watch the match on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports Ultimate with coverage starting at 7pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the match online via Discovery+.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
When is Chelsea vs Ajax?
17:06
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea’s encounter with Ajax in the Champions League kicks off at 8:00pm BST on Wednesday 22 October at Stamford Bridge in London.
Chelsea vs Ajax
17:00
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea play host to Ajax in the Champions League this evening hoping to propel themselves further up the league phase table.
The Blues sit 18th in the table ahead of this week’s fixtures having won one and lost one of their two games so far. Bayern Munich swept the world champions aside 3-1 in their opening match before Enzo Maresca’s side defeated Benfica 1-0 at the end of September.
Since then, Chelsea have beaten Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and look in good touch ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge.
They take on an Ajax side who have not won in three games. They have lost both of their Champions League games so far with Inter Milan and Marseille both scoring multiple goals against the Dutch
