Ajax v Real Madrid: Dutch giants to be left feeling small

Karim Benzema so often shows his best form in Europe
Fact: Jose Mourinho's sides don't lose in October. The stats say Ajax are poorly equipped to change that...
Ajax v Real Madrid, Wednesday 19:45, Sky Sports Red Button, Match odds: Ajax 8.27/1, Real Madrid 1.454/9, The Draw 5.14/1
Since the 2005/06 season, the Special One has delighted in the merry month of...October. Aside from a penalty shootout loss against Charlton, which of course doesn't count as a defeat in betting terms, Jose Mourinho has overseen unbeaten Octobers at Inter and Real Madrid as well as his beloved Chelsea.
A quirky fact, though a telling one in terms of Champions League group stage success.
And as Opta tell us, Ajax have a mammoth task ahead of them if they are to rain on Mourino's autumn parade by recording a win.
Rarely do the stats weigh more heavily in one side's favour in Europe's top competition. The Dutch champions Ajax have only won one of their last 11 games against Spanish sides, losing the last six in a row. Crucially, the last four of these have come against Real.
Ajax fans will have been cursing more than just their luck in being drawn against the Spaniards for the third successive year in the group stages. Those last four meetings have been won at an astonishing aggregate score of 12-0 by the visitors.
Making even worse reading for the Dutch is that, in the last two seasons, those home games have seen a seven-goal aggregate pummelling, compared to just the five over two games at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid to win to nil
As Opta inform us, Ajax have failed to score in four of their last five European home matches, including a 0-3 defeat last season to Real Madrid.
The Dutch have only mustered two goals from their last three league and Champions League fixtures and although they beat FC Twente 1-0 in a crunch Eredivisie game at the weekend, it's difficult to look past another convincing Real victory.
To score
Karim Benzema is one of those strikers who saves his best for the Champions League. Opta enlightens us that the Frenchman has now scored an incredible 14 goals in his last 17 Champions League games, the latest in Real's 3-2 comeback win over Manchester City on matchday one.
Best Bet: Back Real Madrid to beat Ajax to nil @ 2.8415/8
Other Recommended Bet: Back Karim Benzema to score @ 2.526/4