Ajax has had no luck with the draw for the group stage of the Champions League, analysts René van der Gijp and Johan Derksen conclude on Thursday evening. SBS6. In the run-up to the match between Rosenborg BK and PSV in the last preliminary round of the Europa League, Van der Gijp and Derksen react to the draw: Ajax will meet Liverpool, Atalanta and FC Midtjylland.

“Nice, especially for us. It’s a bit less for Ajax”, concluded Van der Gijp in the broadcast. “They should have drawn less opponents.” He even warns against the team that came out of Pot 4: Midtjylland. “Even that fourth team plays good football; I saw it play yesterday”, the analyst refers to the 4-1 victory that Midtjylland recorded on Wednesday evening against Slavia Prague in the last preliminary round. Thanks to that victory, the reigning champion of Denmark makes the billions ball debut.

Atalanta made an impression in the Champions League last season. The club reached the quarter finals, in which Paris Saint-Germain was too strong. “Atalanta is not a one day fly. They are doing very well in Italy and it is nice with the Dutch who play there”, Derksen points to Hans Hateboer and Marten de Roon. “Atalanta and Midtjylland should be feasible, but I don’t see Ajax winning from Liverpool.”

The first round in the group stage of the new Champions League season will be played on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October. The last round is scheduled for Tuesday December 8 and Wednesday December 9. The exact playing dates of Ajax will be announced by UEFA on Friday evening. Last season, the team from Amsterdam finished third in a group with Valencia, Chelsea and Lille OSC.