Ajax’s Champions League campaign stalls in the group stage. The team from Amsterdam still had a very small chance of overwintering if Liverpool were defeated, but this did not work out. The British struck hard and again treated the team to a hard defeat: 0-3.
The goal of Ajax was clear beforehand. If the team from Amsterdam still wanted to keep an eye on wintering in the Champions League, Liverpool had to be defeated. Preferably with two goals difference, because then the team would have a better mutual result. Napoli would also have to win two more times in that scenario. The intentions were immediately visible, because Steven Berghuis – who scored twice against RKC – shot the post.
Berghuis created the next danger for Amsterdam moments later with a long shot. Andrew Robertson had a great chance on the counterpunch, but his shot went into the side net. Dusan Tadic then had the opportunity at 1-0. The captain was completely free and lunged. However, his bet was cracked by Trent Alexander-Arnold. That turned out to be a harbinger, because Mohamed Salah gave his team the lead with a bouncer: 0-1. Darwin Núñez, who already hurt Ajax last year with Benfica, hit the post.
Check out Tadic’s huge opportunity below:
Hope gone
Any hope the Amsterdammers still had was dashed to the ground at lightning speed. Núñez first found Remko Pasveer in his way, but a minute later it was hit. The Uruguayan nodded inside from a corner: 0-2. Ajax could not recover from this for very long, because Harvey Elliot took care of the 3-0. The defense of the team from Amsterdam was insufficient. Substitute Kenneth Taylor had another good opportunity, but the hosts never got into the game.
Liverpool loosened the reins a bit and didn’t have to. Ajax did not get further than a shot next to Jurrien Timber’s goal. Due to the defeat against Liverpool, the winter in the Champions League is out of reach.
Europa League
Ajax must therefore focus on the Europa League. The team from Amsterdam has already unofficially qualified for this, because Rangers should beat Ajax with more than four goals. The squad also has three points more than the Scots, making one point enough in Glasgow next week. In order to optimally prepare for this duel, Ajax has been given the weekend off.
Ajax setup: feather; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Blind (Windal/58); Klaassen (Kudus/58), Álvarez (Grillitsch/85), Berghuis (Conceição/85); Bergwijn, Brobbey (Taylor/63), Tadic