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Champions League: Ajax Claims Impressive First Leg Victory at Spurs

Tottenham 0-1 Ajax

By Our Reporter On Apr 30, 2019 0

Tottenham 0-1 Ajax
Van de Beek strikes for visitors (15)
Four Spurs changes; Lucas, Llorente start
One Ajax change; Neres for Dolberg
Champions League semi-final first leg
Return leg on Wednesday, May 8
Winners face Barca/Liverpool in final

AJAX TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Onana, Veltman, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico, Schone, Van de Beek, De Jong, Ziyech, Tadic, Neres.

Subs: Varela, Sinkgraven, Huntelaar, Mazraoui, Magallan, Dolberg, De Wit.

MATCH FACTS: AJAX

Ajax have won just one of their six previous Champions League meetings with English opposition (3-1 vs Man City in October 2012), with all three of their away games finishing as draws (twice vs Arsenal, once vs Man City).
After knocking out both Real Madrid and Juventus, Ajax became the first side in European Cup/Champions League history to progress from two different knockout rounds within the same campaign when failing to win their first leg at home.
The average age of Ajax’s starting XI in the Champions League this season has been 24 years and 257 days – the youngest of any of the semi-finalists, and second youngest of all 32 teams to take part in the competition this season.
Only Lionel Messi (13) has been directly involved in more Champions League goals this season than Ajax’s Dusan Tadic (9 – 6 goals, 3 assists).

TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Rose, Eriksen, Alli, Moura, Llorente.

Subs: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Davies, Dier, Skipp, Sissoko.

So Mauricio Pochettino has named his strongest possible side as Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura start up front.

In total, there are four changes from the defeat to West Ham as Jan Vertonghen and Kieran Trippier come into a five-man defence and Victor Wanyama slots into midfield in addition to Llorente’s return.

Moussa Sissoko returns to the bench after missing Spurs’ last three games through injury.

Champiosn League