Real Madrid vs. Ajax – UEFA Champions League Match Preview
Real Madrid will be facing Ajax in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Tuesday.
Real Madrid are currently enjoying the top spot in Group D of the European competition. On the other hand, Ajax are sitting second and sharing that spot with the French side Lyon.
Real Madrid won their first match against Dinamo Zagreb. Ajax faced Lyon in their only European fixture and both the teams settled for a goalless draw.
Both the teams faced each other in the UEFA Champions League last season. Real Madrid managed to win both the fixtures. Madrid won 2-0 at Santiago Bernabeu. While being away from home, Madrid won 0-4 at the Amsterdam Arena.
In the second leg last season, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045 and Sergio Ramos both received late yellow cards and got sent off. The red cards were quite controversial as both the Spanish players entered the knock out stage with a clean disciplinary record.
The last time Ajax defeated Real Madrid was in the semi final of the European Champion Club’s Cup. The Dutch side first won the fixture 2-1 at home and later picked up a 0-1 away win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ajax have also won the European competition. They are going to participate in the tournament for the tenth time. The last time Ajax won the European competition was back in 1995 when they were able to beat AC Milan in the final.
Real Madrid’s last season qualification in the semi final came after six seasons. The Spanish side couldn’t reach the quarter final stage for six consecutive seasons. However, last season they lost the semi final to their bitter rivals http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604.
Ajax and Real Madrid have played ten matches against each other. Madrid have won five out of those ten fixtures, lost four and drawn one.
Team News: Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has almost all the players available to win this difficult fixture. The Spanish side has been going through a few crises as they lost and drew a game in La Liga.
However, after the 6-2 home win against Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid look to be back on track.
Madrid will be without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marcelo-c23554.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350 are going to start for Real Madrid.
Team News: Ajax
Ajax are currently in a better position than Real Madrid, in terms of injuries.
The Dutch side will be welcoming back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vurnon-Anita-c36486 as both the players have recovered from their respective injuries.
The only player who will miss this difficult clash is Nicolai Boilesen as he is still out with a hamstring injury.
Vermeer, Van der Wiel, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Anita; De Jong, Eriksen, Janssen; Sulejmani, Sigthorssson, Boerrigter are going to start for Ajax.
Predictions:
Despite winning the weekend fixture 6-2, Real Madrid are still not totally back on track.
Ajax are going to be a tough time to play in such conditions. Madrid scored two of their six goals from spot kicks and with Varane playing as a centre back, Spaniards might leak a goal.
This match may still end in favour of Madrid as the score line can be 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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