Ajax play host to AC Milan in Champions League
As Champions League matchday two gets underway all eyes will be on the Amsterdam ArenA as Ajax take on Italian giants AC Milan in action from group G.
Recent Form
Ajax are currently sitting in the pole position in the Dutch Eredivisie where expectations are always high for the legendary side which hail from the capital, but everything becomes a lot more difficult and expectations change when it's time to take on the
best teams from the rest of the continent. Ajax got off to a tough start in the Champions League falling 2-0 away at the Santiago Bernabeu to Real Madrid. Home victories against the big clubs are going to be essential if Ajax hope to have any chance of surviving
what has been dubbed "The Group of Death".
AC Milan are coming off a 1-0 victory over Genoa over the weekend but have otherwise had a tough start to the Serie A season given their expectations are always so high every year and they currently sit in fifth place tied on eight points with three other
clubs. They did have a successful opening match in the Champions League at home to French side Auxerre. However, that victory has to be seen as the easiest fixture they'll face at this stage of the competition. With a victory against Ajax, AC Milan would look
to add confidence before taking on Real Madrid who they will hope to keep pace with in group G as the two powerhouse clubs will look to distance themselves from other teams in the group early.
Players to watch
Although he's the not the player he was five years ago, AC Milan can always count on Brazilian Ronaldinho for a dash of brilliance. But the man who will be most closely watched will be Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who will be taking on the club from
which he first turned heads and achieved notoriety as one of the deadliest strikers on the world stage.
For Ajax, the player who will hope to be a thorn in Milan's side and help Ajax get some goals will be their pesky Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. Suarez is coming off an impressive summer where his country made it to the semi-final of the World Cup – a feat
in which he was an instrumental part. Suarez's goal scoring record with Ajax in the Eredivisie is also impressive, and he already has six goals this season. He will now look to make an impact on Europe's biggest stage.
What to expect
AC Milan and Ajax are two of Europe's biggest clubs with 11 Champions League titles between them. They have also met each other in the Champions League final twice with AC Milan winning way back in 1969 and Ajax taking the title in 1995. But a lot has changed
where now big markets yield big results and Italy is simply a bigger market with better players. AC Milan is also at home which means all the history in the world won't save Ajax. Milan win 2-0.
Tags: