20 APR 2017 Schalke 04 - Ajax Europa League Quarterfinals

[Orange14]

More Thursday night football this week as Ajax journey to Gelesenkirchen for the return tie with Schalke. Schalke really look adrift after another Bundesliga loss yesterday. It's doubtful that they will be seeing European football next season so their only chance for redemption is a solid performance against Ajax. Ajax were missing Sinkgraven and Riedewald with knee complaints over the weekend and it's uncertain if either will be able to play leaving the club short on left side defenders. Sanchez, Younes, Klaassen, and Neres all are carrying Yellow cards.

Ajax have to come out of the blocks with pressing football and put the tie to rest early on!

[Tom_]

I have to travel so I'm going to miss this match. Bit of a drag. Anyway, I agree—Ajax has to aim to score, if they sit back and try to hang on there will be trouble.

[King Litti]

If someone would have offered me a 2-0 result before the first leg, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. Now after seeing the game, I have to say wow, we could have had more. Schalke really did look surprisingly poor.

Anyway, 2-0 is a great score to take to Germany and yes, we shouldn't park a bus. If we score one away goal, they would have to put 4 behind Onana. They have a pretty impressive arena and support and they will certainly come harder at us playing at home, but I can't see them scoring four goals against us.

I remember when my local football club HJK Helsinki played Schalke in a E.L playoff. HJK also won 2-0 at home, but were overrun in Gelsenkirchen where Schalke won 6-1 (If I remember correctly Huntelaar scored four)!

The difference is that then there was a big difference in the quality of the two teams that irresistibly started to show. Now there is no difference or if there is, it might be even slightly on our side. I think we have a great chance to progress to the semis which is so cool!

[Orange14]

Accumulated Yellow cards are wiped away after the quarter finals so the players with cards need to be careful on Thursday not to pick up a stupid one.

[ajaxcolombia]

An important European night in quite a while. I went to the Arena when we played bucharest in 2013 and we won 2-0 that night. Hope we don't commit the same mistakes away we did in that opportunity. Just gotta be confident we have the talent, exploit spaces, try to win fouls, maybe we can get a free kick for Lasse. De Ligt seemed great this weekend, hope he starts again.

[SPL]

de Ligt and Kluivert playing ,Traore striker Dolberg on the bench.

[Orange14]

I will rest easy if we get an early goal!!!!

[Orange14]

Ajax really fortunate to have escaped without conceding a goal. Looks like Onana took a bad knock right at the end and is in pain. Veltman and Schöne had some awful give away passes. Viergever is playing well and Sanchez finally settled down after some poor early play. Schalke are defending Younes much better this week and he needs to pass much more quickly as he's not fooling his marker. Ajax need to stiffen up and get a goal!!

[SPL]

Well we weathered an early storm and created some chances .So far so good .

Onana had a clash with one of their players and was getting treatment ,hope he is ok.

[SPL]

Onana is fit ,great relief

[Orange14]

Ziyech had the chance to defend on the goal run and just gave up

[SPL]

Oh dear 2-2

[SPL]

Donny can only improve our midfield

[SPL]

Hopeless Veltman sent off ,good bye Europe

[Orange14]

Well that's it. What a dumb play by Veltman

[Amol]

How was that a 2nd yellow?

[SPL]

ET with 10 men goodbye title at PSV

[King Litti]

The fouls by veltman were worthy of fouls but Not yellow cards.

[Orange14]

What a rubbish performance in the 2nd half. Veltman picks up two stupid cards and is out. Ziyech is totally unaware of the danger on the 1st Schalke goal and does nothing to stop the cutter. So we are into extra time now. I just hope it doesn't go to penalties.

[Orange14]

How was that a 2nd yellow?

Obstruction, it's called all the time. Totally good call.

[Amol]

Alright then, we're out of Europe.

[SPL]

Thats it 3-0

[Amol]

That was great while it lasted.

I will still maintain that the lack of squad rotation is my main concern for the whole season. Closely followed by Veltman playing over Tete throughout this season.

[SPL]

Yes Viergever 3-1 10 mins left

[Amol]

3-1!!!

According to uefa.com, we're through if the score stands on away goals!!!