The line-up of Ajax for the first group match in the Champions League is known. Erik ten Hag cannot have Maarten Stekelenburg at his disposal on Wednesday evening against Sporting Portugal, who is suffering too much from groin complaints. He is replaced below the bar by Remko Pasveer. Ten Hag chooses Daley Blind in the left back position, so that Nicolás Tagliafico takes place on the bench. The match between Sporting and Ajax starts at 9 p.m. in Estádio José Alvalade.
Stekelenburg was already missing against PEC Zwolle on Saturday due to an injury. At the press conference on Monday evening, Ten Hag said that the keeper is now fit enough, but that turns out not to be the case. As is known, Davy Klaassen is not part of the match selection due to groin complaints. He is replaced as attacking midfielder by Steven Berghuis. Before the game, Ten Hag said that Tagliafico is able to play ninety minutes, but that is not going to happen. After all, he chooses Blind in the left back position; Lisandro Martínez and Jurriën Timber form the center and Noussair Mazraoui starts on the right.
By whom Klaassen will be replaced ‘at 10’, Ten Hag did not want to say during the press conference on Monday evening. Against PEC, the coach chose Berghuis, who gave both assists during the 0-2 win. Alternatives such as Zakaria Labyad (ill) and Mohammed Kudus (injured) cannot be used and therefore Berghuis is again the most logical choice. Sporting lacks captain Sebastián Coates (suspension) and star player Pedro Goncalves (injury).
Line-up Sporting Portugal: adan; Feddal, Goncalo Inacio, Luis Neto; Pedro Porro, Palhinha, Nunes, Vinagre; Cabral, Paulinho, Nuno Santos
Ajax setup: feather; Mazraoui, Timber, Martinez, Blind; Álvarez, Berghuis, Gravenberch; Antony, Haller, Tadic