UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid draw Ajax in Round of 16
Real Madrid has learned their fate for the Round of 16 earlier today as they look to progress in the competition, chasing for a 14th title.
Earlier today at UEFA Headquarters the Draw for the Round of 16 took place. The highly anticipated event determined which of the remaining 16 opponents would face off against one another.
Today’s draw determined that Real Madrid will face off against Dutch club AFC Ajax. This is the first time Ajax has made it through to the Round of 16 was the 2008-09 campaign. The first leg will be played in Amsterdam on February 13, and the return leg taking place at the Bernabeu on March 5.
🔀🏆 We'll face @AFCAjax in the Champions League last-16! #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/pdWESwoJYA
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 17, 2018
Having not made a deep run into the Champions League for the better part of a decade, Ajax still poses a serious threat. In the Eredivisie (Dutch League), Ajax sits in the second spot after just 16 matches. Only PSV Eindhoven have the upper hand but just two points ahead. This season they have scored 57 goals and conceded just seven, a very impressive goal margin.
Ajax managed to finish second in Group E, with 12 points. The Dutch club had three draws and three wins over 6 matches which included a thrilling 3-3 match against German giants, Bayern Munich.
These two teams have seen one another in European competition 12 times dating back to 1967 and as recent as 2012. Real and Ajax have met one another four times in the group stage, once in the first round as well in the semi-finals.
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Overall, history shows that Madrid has the upper hand winning seven of the twelve matches with the other five adding up to one draw and four losses. Los Blancos have dominated on the score sheets as well scoring 24 goals whereas Ajax has managed less than half, with just 10.
All that though is in the past, and this is a different Real Madrid, and most certainly a different Ajax. This season Real Madrid have slipped up against lesser competition, teams that they most certainly should have snatched all three points from. The Group Stage this season is a prime example of Madrid dropping points as they failed to beat CKSA Moscow on both occasions.
Nonetheless, Real Madrid will look to continue their dominance on the European stage come February and March but it won’t be an easy task. Chasing three titles means a packed schedule, increasing the urgency for Santiago Solari to find a strong rotation of players sooner rather than later.