Champions League: All Eyes on Osimhen as Lille Faces Ajax Tonight

Champions League: Ajax vs Lille Tonight

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Onana; Veltman, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, Promes, Martinez; Ziyech, Tadic, Neres

Lille possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Pied, Fonte, Djalo, Bradaric; Andre, Soumare; Ikone, Yazici, Bamba; Osimhen

All eyes will be on the Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen as he aim to kick off his Champions League campaign on a bright note as Lille visit Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena tonight.

The 20-year-old Nigerian has made a flying start to life at Lille, scoring five goals in his first five Ligue 1 games to jointly top the scoring charts at this early stage of the season.

There are indications that he will be on the starting XI tonight given his fine form, however Loic Remy should be available after being named on the bench at the weekend following the injury he had.

A trip to the Johan Cruyff Arena is a daunting way for Lille to make their Champions League return, having not featured in the competition proper since 2012-13.

However, last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax are  set to begin their quest to repeat and surpass those heroics when they host Lille in their opening Group H outing on Tuesday night.

The Dutch outfit were forced to come through qualifying stages to reach the competition proper despite their performances in 2018-19, whereas Lille’s second-placed finish in Ligue 1 was enough to earn them a first Champions League campaign for seven years.

Ajax may have lost some star power over the summer, but there are key members of last season’s squad still firing on all cylinders – not leastDusan Tadic.

The former Southampton man has five goals in five league games so far this term, while in all competitions he already boasts eight goals and five assists.

Hakim Ziyech has four goals in five league games to his name too, while Nicolas Tagliafico helped himself to a brace from left-back at the weekend.

Donny van de Beek is a notable absentee for the home side, though, having not featured since Ajax secured their place in the group stages against APOEL.

Noussair Mazraoui picked up a knee injury on international duty which will rule him out of this match, but Ten Hag is expected to welcome back David Neres after resting him at the weekend.

In other games tonight possible starting lineup had shown that other Nigerians playing today as Champions League starts include Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey (Genk) and Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague).

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Read also: Red hot Osimhen hits goal number 5