Real Madrid vs Ajax Champions League PreviewAfter a 2-1 first leg success
in Amsterdam, Real Madrid are closing in on a ninth straight Champions League
(CL) quarter final. The omens are good for Madrid as they have won their last
five home matches against Dutch opposition, although the last side to beat
them at the Santiago Bernabéu was Ajax in 1995. |
Despite this, the pressure is
on manager Santiago Solari as his side have lost their previous three home
games across all competitions for the first time under his stewardship. They
conceded six goals in those three matches, with five of those goals coming in
the second half. |
Ajax put in a valiant display
in the first leg and were unlucky to lose, yet they now remain without a win
in their last seven CL knockout fixtures (D2, L5). However, since that defeat
to Madrid, the visitors have won their previous three matches across all
competitions, conceding just one goal and scoring an impressive 13. |
Ajax have won just four of
their previous 13 matches against Madrid (W4, D1, L8), losing all of the previous
seven H2H matches, and scoring one goal or less. |
Players to watch:Karim
Benzema has four goals and two assists in this season’s CL,
including a goal against Ajax in the first leg. |
Hakim Ziyech’s first
goal in this season’s CL came against Madrid in the first leg, although he
has had 14 attempts on goal in the competition - the third highest of any
player. |
Stat attack:Madrid have
averaged nine corners per game in the CL so far. |
Madrid have scored nine goals
in their previous three matches at home to Ajax, conceding only one. |
Ajax have averaged 2.57 yellow
cards per game in CL so far. |
Nine of Ajax’s last ten competitive games have seen over 2.5 goals, while the same is true in nine of Madrid’s last 11. Xyzscore Safest Prediction: 12 |