In-Play Betting Tips: Games of two halves for Ajax and Chelsea

De Klassieker rivals Feyenoord and Ajax are both off the pace

Ajax's tendency to notch early and Chelsea's late resilience should help you profit in-play from this weekend's grandest TV games...

AC Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: AC Milan 3.55/2, Juventus 2.3611/8, The Draw 3.3512/5

This is usually seen as the least grudge-tastic of the three clashes between Italy's big three of AC Milan, Juventus and Inter, but this particular edition has everything required to thrill. The Rossoneri, after a wretched 2013/14, are one of three teams on six points alongside Roma and Juventus, who surprisingly have Max Allegri - Milan's coach between 2010 and 2014 - in their dugout.

Punters will be cautious about backing Juventus at 2.3611/8 pre-match owing to the hosts' promising start, but if the Old Lady does assume a lead, consider that your invitation to steam in in-play. They have won the past 15 Serie A encounters that they went 1-0 up in, 13 of them to nil, while AC Milan last salvaged a point from behind on February 1, trailing eight times without recovery since.

Feyenoord v Ajax
Sunday, 13:30
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: Feyenoord 2.6813/8, Ajax 2.747/4, The Draw 3.65n/a

Ajax's fixture list is so evil that you'd swear it was a Dick Dastardly concoction. Yet unlike the Wacky Races villain's scheming, this devilish plot to force the champions to face four of last term's top eight in their first four games succeeded, denying them six points. Now they tackle runners-up Feyenoord, who have revisited their bleak pre-Ronald Koeman era in collecting just five points from five outings.

Feyenoord and Ajax's underwhelming openings leave them 14th and fifth respectively. A key contrast has been that Feyenoord haven't netted before the 33rd minute in any Eredivisie contest, whereas Ajax have struck within 16 minutes in three of their previous four. The advice therefore is to back slight outsiders Ajax now at 2.747/4 with a view to Cashing Out if they do obtain an early advantage.

Man City v Chelsea
Sunday, 16:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Match Odds: Man City 2.447/5, Chelsea 3.211/5, The Draw 3.55n/a

This writer still expects one of the Manchester clubs to lift the Premier League title despite Chelsea's impressive getaway launching them into 1.834/5 favouritism, yet the Blues were so formidable against positional adversaries last season that there is clearly potential for their lead to widen first.

Chelsea have been shaky defensively, gifting opponents seven goals in five games, though that won't happen in a meticulous Jose Mourinho masterpiece match. They conceded only twice across seven Premier League trips to top-eight rivals in 2013/14, and both of those leaks occurred in first halves. So instead of diving into their current clean sheet odds of 4.47/2, see if they remain on course at half time and get on board at what will still be a healthy price (almost certainly above evens) then.