25 NOV 2020; Ajax - FC Midtjylland; CL Group 4

[Orange14]

Ajax host the Danish club in the fourth Champions League group match day this Wednesday. It is not clear whether Labyad, Klaassen, or Mazraoui will be available for the match because of injuries suffered in yesterday's match. Labyad was critical of the playing surface in the Arena for being too slippery. Ajax need to take all three points from this match. Liverpool host Atalanta in the other fixture. Ajax are facing two matches a week until the winter break.

[kezme44]

do we know if antony will be back?

[Ayman]

All Ajax need is 6 points from the three remaining games, provided that Atalanta don't win against Liverpool.

[Orange14]

do we know if antony will be back?

At the news conference today, ten Hag said Antony, Klaassen, Mazraoui and Labyad should all be available tomorrow. Klaassen did not train today and will be evaluated for full fitness tomorrow. Brobbey is likely to be in the match team as an extra striker if needed. ten Hag said Ajax need to score goals!!!

[SPL]

Same starting line up as Heracles ,everyone fit (apart from Kudus)

A must win game

[SPL]

No comments everyone must be bored ,very moderate football.Finishing poor Traore had an open goal and still could not score.

[SPL]

Yes Gravenberch 1-0 a beauty

[SPL]

2-0 can breath easy

[SPL]

3-0 Neres a gem of a goal

[kezme44]

problem is the 2-0 for Atalanta again liverpool

[Manneken Pis]

problem is the 2-0 for Atalanta again liverpool

An that's a BIG problem...
As they'll both almost certainly beat Midtjylland, we need to beat both Liverpool and then (based on unfavourable goal difference) Atalanta.

[Ayman]

problem is the 2-0 for Atalanta again liverpool

An that's a BIG problem...
As they'll both almost certainly beat Midtjylland, we need to beat both Liverpool and then (based on unfavourable goal difference) Atalanta.

Not necessarily regardless of what happens with the game at Anfield, Ajax just need to beat Atalanta at home, and they are through.

[kezme44]

is goal difference the tie breaker if we are even on points?

[SPL]

A comfortable win after the early 2nd half goals. Mazraoui a fine goal and then gives away a penalty with schoolboy defending.

[SPL]

Atalanta's win makes us outsiders for 2nd place . Need a draw at least v Liverpool and beat Atalanta.Very tough.

[Orange14]

This game should have been over in the first half. A good save off a Labyad shot and some really poor shooting from Ajax kept it scoreless. It also has to be said that this was one of the worst passing games Ajax have had in a long time. At one point the statistics on the screen indicated they had only completed about 60% of their passes. This is OK against a poor quality team but not against higher competition! Defense did well enough and the conceded penalty is one of those that can go either way. Onana almost had the PK saved. Atalanta kept pace with Ajax by defeating Liverpool 0-2. I hope we are not heading towards a CL group outcome like last season.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7.5) - had some tough saves to make tonight and almost saved the penalty
Tagliafico (7) - good game going forward and defending
Blind (7)- defensively sound and had to come off with what looked like a hamstring issue
Schuurs (7.5) - really solid tonight and passes were solid
Mazraoui (7) - outstanding run and receipt of the pass from Tadic to score, tough call on the penalty but he did nick the player who went down
Klaassen (6.5) - worked hard but his passing was not great before coming off in the 2nd half
Gravenberch (7) - solid game and a wonderful strike of the ball for the first goal, his field awareness is improving each game
Labyad (7) - solid match but he had a couple of openings that he should have done better
Tadic (7) - good game from the skipper
Traore (5.5) - strikers get paid to score and Traore muffed two chances
Neres (7) - despite being one of those whose passing was poor, he was a constant thread down the right side and his goal was excellent
Martinez (6) - did well enough coming on for Blind
Alvarez (6) - put in a nice shift and had some good passes
Promes (NR)
Klaiber (NR)
Ekkelenkamp (NR)

Travel to Anfield next week against an injury riddled Liverpool team who are not guaranteed a way out of the group yet

[Wie kent Cees de Wolf nog?]

Atalanta's win makes us outsiders for 2nd place . Need a draw at least v Liverpool and beat Atalanta.Very tough.

As a matter of fact, just a win against Atalanta will be sufficient, regardless the result at Anfield.

[GangstaRiB]

This game should have been over in the first half. A good save off a Labyad shot and some really poor shooting from Ajax kept it scoreless. It also has to be said that this was one of the worst passing games Ajax have had in a long time. At one point the statistics on the screen indicated they had only completed about 60% of their passes. This is OK against a poor quality team but not against higher competition! Defense did well enough and the conceded penalty is one of those that can go either way. Onana almost had the PK saved. Atalanta kept pace with Ajax by defeating Liverpool 0-2. I hope we are not heading towards a CL group outcome like last season.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7.5) - had some tough saves to make tonight and almost saved the penalty
Tagliafico (7) - good game going forward and defending
Blind (7)- defensively sound and had to come off with what looked like a hamstring issue
Schuurs (7.5) - really solid tonight and passes were solid
Mazraoui (7) - outstanding run and receipt of the pass from Tadic to score, tough call on the penalty but he did nick the player who went down
Klaassen (6.5) - worked hard but his passing was not great before coming off in the 2nd half
Gravenberch (7) - solid game and a wonderful strike of the ball for the first goal, his field awareness is improving each game
Labyad (7) - solid match but he had a couple of openings that he should have done better
Tadic (7) - good game from the skipper
Traore (5.5) - strikers get paid to score and Traore muffed two chances
Neres (7) - despite being one of those whose passing was poor, he was a constant thread down the right side and his goal was excellent
Martinez (6) - did well enough coming on for Blind
Alvarez (6) - put in a nice shift and had some good passes
Promes (NR)
Klaiber (NR)
Ekkelenkamp (NR)

Travel to Anfield next week against an injury riddled Liverpool team who are not guaranteed a way out of the group yet

I very strongly disagree with your rating of Traore. Yes he wasted some chances, but the way he kept the ball with a defender on his back, time after time... world class. That's typical Ajax play. That's why Stefan Petterson was adored at Ajax... not a real finisher but unmissable for the built-up play. Same with Traore.

[Tom_]

The first tie breaker is head-to-head results so if we beat Atalanta we go through no matter what (because we drew away).

Couldn’t watch live but just watched the full replay without knowing the result. I thought Ajax played well. I did have a sinking feeling at half time after those three huge chances were missed. But the ball movement was better in this game than any of the previous CL matches IMO.

I also enjoyed Traoré’s linkup play but he really needs to get those shots on target. Against better teams in the CL converting chances could be crucial. I’m still haunted by Ziyech’s shot against the post at 2-0 in the Tottenham game.