Standing in the way of Ajax reaching the Champions League group stages is Russian side Rostov.
- By Michael Bell
- Follow Michael on Twitter
After the narrow win over PAOK in the last round, Ajax’s name was in Friday’s draw for the play-off round and the Amsterdam side could have been paired with Italian giants Roma or Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach.
However, they will face a trip to Russia after being paired with Rostov, who knocked out Belgian side Anderlecht in the last round. Rostov finished 2nd in the Russian Premier League last season but have never featured in the Champions League before this year.
Ajax will host the first leg on either the 16th or 17th of August with the return leg a week later.
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Best draw Ajax could have gotten. Now they must deliver so there can be 2 Dutch teams in the CL group stage. It’s a crime the Russian league gets seeded because the KNVB has dropped the ball everywhere from the National levels to the leagues.
I think Young Boys Berne would have been easier, but I agree it’s still a favorable matchup considering they could have gotten Roma or Monaco. But Ajax will still have to play much better than they did against PAOK to advance.
It’s sad that the Eredivisie has fallen to the level that they might not get an automatic place in the CL in the near future, while countries like Russia and Ukraine will. Such a shame.