UCL Preview: Real Madrid vs. Ajax Amsterdam

UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid Vs Ajax Amsterdam

What: UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Group D, Matchday 2

Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

When: 27 September 2011, 20:45 GMT

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)

In their first home match of the 2012 UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid will host the defending Dutch Eredivisie champion Ajax Amsterdam in a Group D fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu. Here is a brief preview for the game,

The Past:

Real Madrid:

The Spanish giants have an impeccable record in the UEFA Champions league winning a total of 9 titles. However, the last decade in the Champions League hasn’t been fruitful for them unlike their rivals Barcelona. Their last taste of success came in 2002 when Zinedane Zidane was in the thick of things. The Los Blancos are desperately in need of a tenth crown which was evident when their President Florentino Perez spoke these words at the Real Madrid General Assembly held yesterday:

“We want the dream of winning our tenth European Cup title to come true soon.”

Real entered into this years champions league after finishing second in the 2010-11 Spanish La Liga season. Jose Mourinho’s men came second to Barca in the League for the second year in a row. The only solace last season was the Spanish Cup victory. Mourinho would certainly be eager to make amends this season, thereby proving his critics and the naysayers wrong.

The battle of the tacticians: Jose Mourinho Vs Frank De Boer

Ajax Amsterdam:

The Sons of Gods (Godenzonen) have an equally impressive Champions League history, winning the title 4 times in the past. Their last victory was in 1995 when Louis Van Gaal was at the helm. With Dutch football legend Frank de Boer being in charge of the team now, the Amsterdammers will look to add the dutch flair in the Champions League mix.

Ajax has an impressive setup and won the League title last year after a gap of seven long years. With Dutch football gaining popularity among the masses due to their impressive showing in last years’ world cup, there is an aura around this team which boasts a few world cup stars like Nigel de Jong and Van der Wiel.

Real Madrid Vs Ajax:

For the second year in a row, Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam will clash in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. In most of their previous meetings, the Dutch had reigned supreme. However, in the recent past, the Spaniards have improved their record. The last meeting in the Champions League saw Real Madrid crush Ajax to a 4-0 victory at the Amsterdam Arena, last year.

Here’s an interesting graphic about the past meetings between these two sides:

Being in Group D along with French Ligue 1 side Lyonnais and Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, both Real and Ajax may relish their chances of making it to the next stage. However, it is easier said than done. This is what happened in matchday 1 involving Group D sides:

Real Madrid were made to work hard for a 1-0 away victory courtesy of a Angel Di Maria goal at Croatia, whereas, Ajax and Lyon played out a dull draw in Amsterdam. Madrid tried everything they could and even had the highest number of shots on target in that match(11) but nothing worked, which maybe because of the absence of Jose Mourinho in the dugout as he is serving a 3 match ban from UEFA. However, Mourinho will be back in action this week, which may prove to be decisive in Madrid’s fortunes.

Ajax have been badly affected by the departure of the stars like Luis Suarez and Martin Stekelenberg. This is clearly showing in the results over the past few weeks. The past few weeks have been a mixed bag for both the teams with draws and losses interwoven with emphatic victories.

Real Madrid Recent Form:

Lost: Levante 1-0 Real Madrid (18/09; La Liga)

Drawn: Racing Santander 0-0 Real Madrid (21/09; La Liga)

Won: Real Madrid 6-2 Rayo Vallecano (24/09; La Liga)

Ajax Amsterdam Recent Form:

Drawn: PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Ajax (18/09; Eredivisie)

Won: Noordwijk 1-3 Ajax (21/09; KVNB Becker)

Drawn: Ajax 1-1 FC Twente (24/09; Eredivisie)

Real Madrid:

Likely Formation: 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3

CasillasRamos, Varane, Albiol, ArbeloaKhedira, AlonsoDi Maria, Ozil, RonaldoBenzema

Real Madrid Squad

Players missing out:

Ricardo Carvalho (concussion), Hamit Alt?ntop (back injury), Nuri ?ahin (knee ligaments), Pepe (left thigh) and Fábio Coentrão (left calf) are expected to miss out due to the injuries.

With plenty of defenders missing out due to injuries, Jose Mourinho would be forced to go in with the newly signed defender Varane. He should also make a choice between Kaka and Ozil in the central midfield position.

Ajax Amsterdam:

Likely Formation: 4-3-3

Vermeer

Van der Wiel, Vertonghen, Anita,

De Jong, Eriksen, Janssen

Boerrigter, Sulejmani, Sigthorssson

Ajax Amsterdam Squad

Players missing out:

Nicolai Boilesen, Bruno Silva (dislocated shoulder) are expected to miss out due to injuries.

Key Players:

Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo(FW)

He was at his lethal best in their last champions league encounter with Dinamo Zagreb. With an emphatic hat-trick in the La Liga fixture, Ronaldo is in his element and will certainly be so in Tuesday night’s match.

Ajax Amsterdam: Kenneth Vermeer(GK)

The Martin Stekelenberg replacement will be tested to the core against the likes of Ronaldo, Benzema, Alonso, Ozil and Di Maria.

The Bottom Line:

Real Madrid are certainly the favorites in this match which is coming on the heels of their morale boosting 6-2 win over Rayo Vallecano. But Ajax Amsterdam are no pushovers. I fully expect the Real forwards to bombard the Ajax goalpost will plenty of shots. It will be all down to the Ajax defence to prevent the match from turning into a nightmare for them.

Match Prediction: 4-1 victory for Real Madrid !