Ajax host Real Madrid in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League last 16
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Ajax
When the draw was made late last year there was optimism around the Ajax camp that they could shock a stuttering Real Madrid side and reach the quarter-finals.
However, since the winter break, the form of the two sides has gone in opposite directions. Ajax have only won one of their last four games, which included a 6-2 defeat at Feyenoord and a poor 1-0 loss to Heracles on Saturday.
Real Madrid, on the other hand have been in great form recently, winning six of their last seven matches including a 3-1 win at Atletico Madrid at the weekend. The only game that did not end in victory was a draw against Barcelona in the cup.
Ajax boss Erik ten Hag admitted that Real Madrid is the favourites and added, “You can clearly see that improvement in the big matches they have played in the past weeks. You see a clear structure and what is striking is that Real can play very variable. Actually as befits most top teams. They can play very offensively but also closed and with pace on the counter. With an axis consisting of experienced players like Ramos, Kroos, Modric and Benzema and a talent like VinÃcius – who has everything to become an international star – there is a very good mix.”
However, Ten Hag believes his side can upset the odds, “It is going to be a great challenge for us to achieve something positive. We know we can be strong on this stage, and certainly in Amsterdam.”
Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari said on their trip to Amsterdam, “We have great memories of this stadium. Let’s hope that continues tomorrow. They’re a side who link up well, build the play well and have good players. You have to respect every opponent. I hope we produce a performance as serious as we did three days ago (3-1 win at Atletico).”
Team News
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that
The Ajax boss is likely to divert back to his favoured Champions League playing style with Dusan Tadic through the middle of the attack, which should mean a start for David Neres. Noussair Mazraoui will come back in at right-back, while Kasper Dolberg and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar are likely to be on the bench.
Possible Ajax line-up: Onana; Mazraoui, Blind, De Ligt, Tagliafico; Schone, De Jong, Van de Beek; Neres, Tadic, Ziyech
Real Madrid
Possible Real Madrid line-up: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Vazquez, Vinicius, Benzema
Odds
Understandably Real Madrid are favourites for the clash at 10/11. You can get 11/4 for Ajax to cause an upset while a draw is 10/3.
Previous Meetings
Ajax have clashed with Real Madrid on 12 occasions with The Spanish side coming out on top seven times, Ajax winning four and one clash ending in a draw.
Ajax’s wins came in the semi-final of their victorious 1972/73 European Cup campaign, which was inspired by Johan Cruijff (2-1 home, 1-0 away) and, as holders, in the 1995/96 Champions League group stage (1-0 home, 2-0 away).
Since then Real Madrid
Key Players
Frenkie de Jong
The future Barcelona midfielder will be motivated to show what he can do against Real Madrid over the two legs to impress his new club.
De Jong is crucial to Ajax’s style of play but has had a dip in form recently. Ten Hag will be hoping he is back to his controlling best on Wednesday as Ajax aim to control the midfield.
De Jong will need to look to pick off Modric and Kroos in the middle and keep Ajax in possession. The 21-year-old’s dribbling ability will be key to get Ajax out of tricky situations and on the attack.
Karim Benzema
The French striker has been a key player in Solari’s side as they have turned their form around with four goals in their last five games.
Benzema will be confident of netting in Amsterdam on Wednesday and Ajax’s defence will have to improve drastically from recent weeks if they are to keep him quiet.
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Its going to be really tough for Ajax. Despite this being the best Ajax team in over half a decade, the difference in the finances and quality between the teeams is still very large. And it doesn’t help either that when you are a smaller club and play Real you are almost always up against several opponents – Real, UEFA, Refs, and now maybe even VAR.
A win even in the home leg seems a very tough ask – a draw would be a good result.
Regardless of result, I hope Frenkie de Jong has a good performance. There are a lot of expectations of him and this is his chance to show his stuff in the limelight.
“…Real, UEFA, Refs, and now maybe even VAR”
Ok Bob, what are next weeks lottery numbers?