Champion league; Ronaldo’s run ends
FT: Juventus 1-2 Ajax (Agg: 2-3)
- FT: Juventus 1-2 Ajax (Agg: 2-3)
- Ronaldo heads hosts in front (28)
- Van de Beek levels (34)
- De Ligt powers in header (67)
- Dybala, Can start for hosts
- Mazraoui in for Tagliafico
- CL quarter-final second leg
Juventus team to play Ajax: Szczesny, De Sciglio, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro, Pjanic, Matuidi, Emre Can, Bernardeschi, Dybala, Ronaldo.
Subs: Pinsoglio, Cancelo, Barzagli, Spinazzola, Bentancur, Khedira, Kean.
AJAX TEAM NEWS
Ajax team to play Juventus: Onana, Veltman, De Ligt, Van de Beek, Mazraoui, Blind, Schone, De Jong, Ziyech, Tadic, Neres.
Subs: Varela, Sinkgraven, Huntelaar, Magallan, Dolber
‘JUVE BETTER THAN REAL’
Ajax, ahead of closest challengers PSV Eindhoven on goal difference at the top of Eredivisie, pulled off a stunning second-leg result of their own against Real Madrid in the previous round.
Erik ten Hag’s side lost the first leg at home 2-1, but stormed to a 4-1 win in the return leg at the Bernabeu to win a Champions League knockout tie for the first time in 22 years.
“At the start of the season, nobody expected us to be in the final eight of the Champions League,” Ten Hag told a press conference.
“But the team has developed to such an extent that we can compete with these giants. We believe in it and have faith in a good result. That is how we will meet Juventus.”
“This team (Juventus] are a lot better than Real. They are very mature. We did very well last week and we will have to do that again.”