UEFA Champions League – Half time review: Real Madrid versus Ajax Amsterdam
Real Madrid started their European Cup journey against Ajax with a first half performance that signalled their intent for the rest of the campaign. Madrid lined up with all their stars on show, as Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain
all featured in Jose Mourinho’s starting line up. For Ajax, it was a much more subdued setup with their talisman Suarez out with a suspension; however players such as Emmauelson and Van Der Wiel did start for the Dutch giants.
The match started off in spectacular fashion as Madrid kicked into their gears early on with Ozil and Khedira starting to control the midfield area. The first shot on goal from the Los Blancos came in the 6th minute of the match as Sami Khedira
tired his luck on goal but luckily for Ajax, his effort was straight towards the goalkeeper.
The first yellow card of the match went to Ajax’s midfielder De Zeeuw in the 8th minute of the match for an accumulation of fouls on Madrid’s left back Marcelo. Xabi Alonso lined up alongside Ozil and Khedira in a five man midfield for Real, with
Benzema on the bench. At the back, Sergio Ramos missed the encounter due to an injury he sustained in Real’s weekend win over Osasuna in the Spanish Primera Division.
Ozil almost opened the scoring for the men in white at the 10th minute mark as he went passed two defenders in the Ajax penalty area, however the German midfielder could not find a finish to match his promising run. Ozil played for Werder Bremen
before making his move to Spain and was impressive for this national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was one of the best young talents on show in South Africa for Germany.
Higuain had his first shot on goal in the 13th minute of the match as the Argentinean striker almost found the back of the net, fortunately for Ajax his shot was just off the target from inside their own penalty area. Ajax’s defence looked weak
at the start and they were under threat given the pace of Ronaldo down the right and Angel Di Maria down the left side of attack. Both the winger switched their positions quite often during the first half of the encounter.
Suljemani, the Ajax striker was the first one to try his luck at Casillas’s goal in the 15th minute of the match but his shot went well wide of the mark. This was actually Ajax’s first proper effort towards Madrid’s goal. Real’s midfield starved
their opposition of possession and controlled the game in the early minutes of the first half.
Near the 18th minute mark, Higuain tried another shot on goal; this time he used the defenders in front of him to disguise his shot. His curler almost found the back of the net but he was denied by the goal posts above Martin Stekelenburg’s head.
The Dutch international goal keeper had no idea where the ball was going.
The Dutch goal keeper was again busy in the 24th minute of the match as Ozil played a one-two with his international team mate Sami Khedira, the German offensive trequartista was again suspect with his finishing. Ajax were on the ropes at this
time and looked really uncomfortable while dealing with Real Madrid’s front men.
In the 26th minute, Real again threatened and this time they had a valid shout for a penalty kick as Di Maria was brought down en route to goal by the Ajax goal keeper, however the referee had none of it and waved the Real Madrid protests away.
In the 28th minute of the match, Real’s midfielder Alonso went into the referee’s book for his late foul near the touch line.
Higuain was the first man to score for Real Madrid as he connected with Alonso’s corner from the left hand side. This prompted the opening of scoring at Santiago Bernabeau in the 30th minute of the match. Madrid almost scored again in the 34th
minute of the match but Di Maria fluffed his chance which resulted in a fine run and a cross by Marcelo down the left side of Madrid’s offense.
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