Not often was Ajax in such a good position after three group matches in the Champions League as it is now. With nine points from three matches, qualification for the eighth finals is up for grabs. With a good result against Borussia Dortmund, the team of coach Erik ten Hag can secure a place in the last sixteen tonight. Judging by the names that have gained confidence in recent weeks, the probable line-up of Ajax can be filled in.
Ajax had already made an excellent impression by winning 1-5 against Sporting Portugal and 2-0 against Besiktas. However, connoisseurs found it difficult to indicate where Ajax stood in relation to the top. The duel with Borussia Dortmund would paint a better picture, it was said in advance. The Eredivisie leader then played one of the best matches under Ten Hag’s reign and the German top club was swept away 4-0. The much-feared Erling Braut Haaland appeared three times in front of Remko Pasveer, but each time the experienced goalkeeper had an answer ready. On the other side of the field, the attackers were on steam and the victory could have been much bigger if the large number of opportunities had been used a little more sparingly. Dortmund was humiliated at times when playing football and the big result did justice to the difference in strength on the field.
Two weeks later, Borussia Dortmund is eager for revenge. “The first leg has annoyed and irritated us,” said Dortmund coach Marco Rose on Tuesday afternoon during the press conference in the run-up to the confrontation with the list leader of Group C. “But we had to quickly get back on the right line and get the good feeling. retrieve. The confidence has to be there again.” Dortmund shook off the irritations in recent weeks with victories over Arminia Bielefeld (1-3), 1. FC Köln (2-0) and FC Ingolstadt 04 (2-0). According to Rose, something has changed at his team since the beating in Amsterdam. “The first game is still clear to us, but we are no longer full of anger. We don’t need that. We want to win with a good performance,” said the trainer.
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Antony in particular had it on his hips in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. He made a big impression on Dortmund defender Mats Hummels with his actions and playing style. “Individually he is really strong, but Ajax has a lot of players with distinctive qualities from an attacking point of view. Dusan Tadic is also a great winger. They generally work in depth with a lot of running actions. Their joint way of playing is really good”, says Hummels, who, according to the trainer, will have to brace himself for Ajax’s urge to attack, together with his colleagues in the rear. “Sometimes you have to stop an attack with a small violation. The goal must be the ball clean to conquer, but football is a contact sport. Against Ajax it is also about opposing a strong football team. We have to play braver. If we have the ball, they can’t hurt us.”
After the 4-0 in Amsterdam, Ten Hag takes into account a reaction from Dortmund tonight. “They don’t like this. We played well two weeks ago, but they are a very good team and they don’t like losing with such a result. We can expect a reaction, but we are prepared for that”, the trainer said during the press moment on Tuesday evening. “We should not become restless, but we should push our limits. They will let us have less of the ball and we will have to do more to get and stay on the ball.” With a view to qualifying for the next round, a draw could be enough for Ajax. Ten Hag does not want to think about that in advance: “We always play to win, that’s how we enter the game. But of course you sometimes have to play it smart in the final phase. That can play a role.”
Injuries and suspensions
On the side of Ajax, the long-term injured Sean Klaiber and Maarten Stekelenburg are missing. Noussair Mazraoui and Zakaria Labayd were missing from the match selection against Heracles Almelo (0-0) last Saturday because they were ill. Both players have recovered and traveled to Dortmund. André Onana is serving the last day of his suspension and can return to action from next weekend. Jurrien Timber and Edson Álvarez have to watch out tonight; with a yellow card they are suspended for the next Champions League match against Besiktas.
For Dortmund, the absence of Haaland is a great loss. The Norwegian top striker has suffered an injury in the away match against Ajax and is out of circulation for the time being. Unconfirmed sources from Germany recently reported that Haaland will not even be in action this calendar year. Dortmund coach Rose also has to miss Emre Can, Nico Schulz, Giovanni Reyna and Raphaël Guerreiro against Ajax due to injuries.
Probable setups:
Ajax’s line-up is easy to fill in on the basis of the past few weeks. Remko Pasveer gets the confidence under the bar. One change is expected: on the right side, Mazraoui will return to base. That is at the expense of Devyne Rensch, who replaced him last Saturday. The central duo is expected to consist of Timber and Lisandro Martínez, while Daley Blind will again be preferred to Argentinian international Nicolás Tagliafico in the left-back position. The latter, like Perr Schuurs and Rensch, will have to hope for a substitute in Signal Iduna Park.
Rensch is also in the picture for other positions: he also has experience as a central defender, left back and defensive midfielder. Ten Hag hopes that Rensch will focus on every position for which he could qualify, he said at the press conference on Tuesday evening. “I think he should also play in all positions in the back, and also as a defensive midfielder,” said the Ajax coach. “That boy has so much in him. He is still so young and can still develop everything. Ultimately, it will be determined in which position he can make the greatest contribution to the team. In this phase, he must continue to focus on multiple positions. He eventually has to see where a spot opens up, or he has to knock someone out. It doesn’t matter where it is.”
The suspected line-up of Ajax against Borussia Dortmund
The midfield will consist of the now well-known names: Edson Álvarez, Steven Berghuis and Ryan Gravenberch, who will play his tenth Champions League game against Dortmund despite his 19 years. In the vanguard, Ten Hag will most likely choose Antony, Sébastien Haller and Dusan Tadic. With Davy Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus, Mohammed Daramy and David Neres, among others, more than enough options available. Should Neres come in, he will be employed by Ajax for the 45th time and he will write a record to his name. The Brazilian attacker came in for the 44th time against Heracles and with that he equalized with Siem de Jong.
Probable line-up Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Passlack; witsel; Brandt, Bellingham; Giant; Hazard, Malen
Probable Ajax line-up: feather; Mazraoui, Timber, Martinez, Blind; Álvarez, Berghuis, Gravenberch; Anthony, Haller, Tadic.