Ajax will face Tottenham Hotspurs at Johan Cruijff Arena, in Amsterdam, in the Champions League Semi-Finals second leg. Ajax against Tottenham is the match with big interest, especially during this season, their positions in domestic Leagues and also in Europe’s Champions League. Review our thoughts on this match here below.
Ajax
Ajax Amsterdam has made the first step to make a treble this season. In Sunday they confidently won against Willem II with 4:0 result in the KNVB Beker Final. AFC Ajax controlled the possession by 63% of the time, made 16 goal attempts and all 4 shots on goal become goals of the match. In general, they now have 6 wins in a row in different competitions. Moreover, in Eredivisie, they score 3.5 goals on average per game.
In Netherland’s Eredivisie, there are still 2 games ahead. PSV and Ajax are fighting for 1st place in the league to become Champions of Holland. If both teams will finish this final stage with wins, very likely that Ajax will be Winners, due to better goals difference. This season, Sons of the Gods play in a very attacking style, which explains 111 scored goals, and this is only in Eredivisie. They play quickly, aggressively put pressure on the opponent’s defenders and, using their abilities, score very many goals this season, not only to Holland’s teams, but also the current Champions of Spain and Italy.
Last Wednesday Ajax won against Tottenham Hotspurs, van de Beek scoring single goals at the 15th minute of the match. We saw two different halves. First one was controlled by Ajax with big pressure, attacks and dangerous moments. However, in the second half, they decided to be more accurate. They made 4 goal attempts and looked less dangerous, however, their game still looked impressive. This match is one more chance to prove to all Europe that even such teams still have very big potential, strength, and skills. Not everything decides money in modern football.
Unfortunately, Carel Eiting will miss the next match due to injury.
Expected Lineup
Head Coach
Erik ten Hag
Squad
Goalkeepers
Andre Onana
Defenders
Joel Veltman, Daley Blind, Matthijs de Ligt, Nicolas Tagliafico
Midfielders
Lasse Schone, Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek
Strikers
Hakim Ziyech, Dusan Tadic, David Neres
Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspurs still have chances to take 3rd place in Premier League, although, they will be promoted to Champions League group stage for 99,99%. Looks like they fully concentrated to Champions League Semifinal-second leg, as they lost one more game in PL against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. They got 2 red cards, 5 yellow cards and played extremely bad in the second half, finally conceded a late goal from Nathan Ake on the additional minute. The team played aggressively, carelessly, and wanted to score too much, losing common sense. That was 6th away lost in Premier League in a row.
In the game against Ajax, they fully lost 1st half, conceded a goal and almost have not created any dangerous moments. At the first half, they had no shots on goal and after J. Vertonghen injury were forced to change the tactics of the game. The second half of the match was much more successful, apparently, M. Pochettino set them up well during the break and the team gave 100%, but alas, they failed to score a goal, finally losing this match.
Fortunately, Son Heung-Min will participate in this match, as he was very needed last match, which he missed due to yellow card suspension. Unfortunately, Serge Aurier, Harry Kane and Harry Winks will miss next match due to injuries. Moreover, Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela are still under question.
Expected Lineup
Head Coach
Mauricio Pochettino
Squad
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris
Defenders
Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose
Midfielders
Dele Ali, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama, Cristian Eriksen
Strikers
Lucas Moura, Son Heung-Min
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