UEFA Champions League Preview: Ajax Amsterdam Vs http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130
Amsterdam Arena will see four-time European Champions host Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais in a group D game of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Eager Ajax to prove their worth
Ajax boss Frank de Boer has targeted a second place finish in the group that contains the likes of Real Madrid and Dinamo Zagreb. The Amsterdammers will face a Lyon side that is yet to lose a game in the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 Championnat.
With Real Madrid favourites for topping the group, the former Dutch international has already ruled out the possibility of his side being able to win the group. However, the 41-year-old expects second place to be a two-horse race between his side and Lyon
with the other side Dinamo Zagreb rank outsiders.
While talking to francefootball.com, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 man has termed the Ajax-Lyon games in the Group D to be the most important games of the group stages as both sides will battle it out for the second place.
While talking to the media, the Dutch tactician said, “I think Real Madrid will finish on top but if we win, it means we will take a step towards second.”
The Amsterdammers have already made a blistering start to the Eredivisie. The defending league champions are on top of the Eredivisie after raking 13 points from five games. De Boer is satisfied by his side’s recent performances and is eagerly anticipating
the prospect of seeing his club compete in the most prestigious club competition in Europe.
The Dutchman said that he is keen on seeing his young side face a more experienced side in Lyon and is willing to keep intact his unbeaten record in the Champions League.
While talking about the overall presence of French clubs in the Champions League, De Boer said, “The French league is a bit underrated in the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753, but I rate it very highly. They have three teams in the Champions League. Lyon are among the strongest
teams in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899, so I am curious to see how big the difference between Lyon and Ajax is.’
Garde agrees
Lyon coach Remi Garde agrees with De Boer’s observation of the second place being a two-horse race. While talking to the media, the Frenchman said that he would be very surprised to see Real Madrid not finish on top of the group.
Remi Garde was heaped praise on the home side by saying that his side will come across a team that always stick to its principal of playing attacking football.
An Ajax side that is always organised and is good at keeping possession of the ball could cause a lot problems to the Lyon defence and Remi Garde would be hopeful that his defence stays solid throughout the game.
Team news
Ajax
Young Armenian striker Araz Özbiliz has not featured at all this season due to a back injury but De Boer is expected to keep the same team that defeated Heracles 3-2 away from home at the weekend.
Lyon
Star striker Lisandro Lopez is a long-term absentee along with Brazilian http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yoann-Gourcuff-c37416 are also long-term absentees which means that Remi Garde will be force to play the same side that beat Dijon 2-1 at the weekend.
Predictions
Ajax have made a great start to the new campaign and after not being able to impress in the Champions League last season, the Amsterdammers could prove to be a tough opposition for any side in Group D. Lyon on the other hand have been in great form domestically
and are yet to taste defeat this season.
A draw could be a fair result between two sides who would be battling it out to finish second in Group D in order to progress to the next round.
Predicted final score: Ajax 2-1 Lyon
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