3
21:05
Ajax immediately put the forward gear and got the first corner of the game through Steven Berghuis. That doesn’t pose any danger, but a little later a Tadić cross finds the second post Antony, who, under pressure from an opponent, heads past two meters to the right.
1
21:02
The ball rolls! As usual, the home side play in red and white, while Benfica wear black.
20:57
The game will be officiated by Spanish FIFA referee Carlos del Cerro Grande and his team. The referees have already entered the pitch in the Johan Cruyff Arena together with the teams and the obligatory Champions League anthem is now playing.
20:53
Of course, the focus today is also on Ajax striker Sébastien Haller. The former Frankfurt player has performed sensationally in his first Champions League season and scored in every game. With 11 goals, the Frenchman is just one behind leading Robert Lewandowski in the top scorer list.
20:45
Visiting coach Nélson Veríssimo was quite satisfied with the starting position in the run-up to the second leg. “We have to play at a very high level to clear the Ajax hurdle, but I still think this is a 50/50 game,” said the 44-year-old, who doesn’t necessarily plan to, with his team to make the game in Amsterdam. “We have to defend rigorously and be well organized defensively,” said Veríssimo.
20:33
Before the second leg, Erik ten Hag made no secret of the fact that he still has a lot planned for his team this season. “We want to go as far as possible and to do that we have to beat Benfica first,” said the Ajax coach, who is very optimistic about the game: “We got a good result away from home. If we can improve a few more percent, I’m sure we’ll beat Benfica.”
20:20
A quick look at the staff: There are three changes at Ajax compared to the last league game at the weekend. Jurriën Timber, Lisandro Martínez and Edson Álvarez will replace Perr Schuurs, Nico Tagliafico and Davy Klaassen (all bench). Benfica also makes three changes. Valentino Lazaro, Morato and Diogo Gonçalves rotate out onto the bench, with Nicolás Otamendi, Gilberto and Éverton starting in their place. Both teams will field the same eleven as in the first leg, apart from André Onana replacing the injured Remko Pasveer in the Ajax goal.
20:09
The guests from the Portuguese capital had caught up twice in the first leg and therefore still had good chances of their fifth quarter-final participation in the premier class. At Benfica, too, the dress rehearsal for tonight went awry. In the home game against the table 14. FC Vizela, the Red Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw, putting them further behind FC Porto and local rivals Sporting Lisbon in the table.
20:00
After the 2-2 in the first leg in Portugal three weeks ago, Ajax are slightly favored in this second leg. However, the form of the leaders of the Dutch Eredivisie left a lot to be desired. After a defeat at the Go Ahead Eagles Deventer, they only narrowly won 3:2 against the cellar children from Waalwijk and Cambuur. The defense in particular is a concern. Having conceded just five goals in 23 league games up to the end of February, they have conceded six in their last three games alone.
19:59
Hello and welcome to the UEFA Champions League! The round of 16 second leg between Ajax Amsterdam and Benfica Lisbon takes place at 9 p.m. in the Johan Cruyff Arena.