UEFA Champions League
play pause open Close
 
Played
October 3, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Amsterdam ArenA — Amsterdam
Referee:‬ J. Eriksson‎
Attendance:‬ 49491‎
 

Ajax - Real Madrid Preview: Dutch champions rekindle rivalry with familiar foes

Frank de Boer's side were eliminated at this stage of the tournament by the visitors in each of the last two seasons and will hope to do better this time around

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Ajax, Real Madrid CF, Ajax vs Real Madrid CF
Ryan Babel, Christian Eriksen (Ajax - FC Twente)
PROSHOTS
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

AJAX

Vermeer
Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Moisander, Blind
De Jong, Poulsen, Eriksen
Sana, Babel, Boerrigter
REAL MADRID

Casillas
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo
Khedira, Alonso
Di Maria, Modric, Ronaldo
Benzema

Ajax could name the same team that beat Twente at the weekend for Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Real Madrid at the Amsterdam Arena.

South African midfielder Thulani Serero misses out because of his continuing groin injury, while Kolbeinn Sigthorsson is sidelined with a shoulder problem.

Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa are set to make returns to the Real Madrid starting line-up after being rested on the bench for Sunday's 5-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Ajax are on a 12-match unbeaten run at the Amsterdam Arena in all competitions (W11, D1). Their last home defeat came against Manchester United in the Europa League in February.
  • The Dutch side's overall home record against Spanish opposition is W8, D3, L4, but they have won only one of their last seven games against Primera Division clubs.
  • Ajax have failed to score in their last three Champions League outings.
  • Real Madrid have beaten Ajax home and away in each of the last two seasons in the Champions.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Ajax 0-3 Real Madrid CF
    20.69 %
  • Ajax 1-3 Real Madrid CF
    14.57 %
  • Ajax 0-2 Real Madrid CF
    8.42 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Dec 4, 2012 Real Madrid CF 4 - Ajax 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Oct 3, 2012 Ajax 1 - Real Madrid CF 4
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Dec 7, 2011 Ajax 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Sep 27, 2011 Real Madrid CF 3 - Ajax 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Nov 23, 2010 Ajax 0 - Real Madrid CF 4
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Ajax
May 12, 2013Groningen 0 - Ajax 2NED1
May 5, 2013Ajax 5 - Willem II 0NED1
Apr 27, 2013NAC 0 - Ajax 2NED1
Apr 19, 2013Ajax 1 - Heerenveen 1NED1
Apr 14, 2013PSV 2 - Ajax 3NED1
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Odds
Returns: Ajax £410.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £70.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Real Madrid £15.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
1Kenneth VermeerGoalkeeper
3Toby AlderweireldDefender
25Niklas MoisanderDefender
17Daley BlindDefender
34Ricardo van RhijnDefender
5Christian PoulsenMidfielder
8Christian EriksenMidfielder
10Siem de JongMidfielder
19Tobias SanaMidfielder
21Derk BoerrigterStriker
8Ryan BabelStriker
22Jasper CillessenGoalkeeper
33Joël VeltmanDefender
35Mitchell DijksDefender
-Fabian Mitchel SporksledeDefender
20Lasse SchöneMidfielder
37Jody LukokiStriker
-Danny HoesenStriker
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
12MarceloDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
8KakáMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
Players to Watch
Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 8
Games Goals YC RC
6 1 0 0
Dubbed by some quarters as the next Andres Iniesta, Eriksen has risen rapidly over the past two years to become one of the most exciting young players in world football. The 20-year-old is a natural playmaker with a knack for drifting into gaps in the opposition half and bringing the wide men and forwards into play with instinctive, one-touch passes.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
12 12 1 0
The Portugal captain struck his first hat-trick of the season to power his team to an emphatic win over Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend. Ronaldo has enjoyed playing against Ajax in the past, netting three times in his last two appearances against the Eredivisie side.
Prediction
Despite fielding a fairly inexperienced squad, Ajax possess a number of technically sound players who can keep the ball well. But they will struggle to impose their style on a side that is packed with pace and power and is devastating on the counterattack.
Editor's Prediction
Ajax 0
Real Madrid 2
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0