Champions League: Previewing Real Madrid vs. Ajax
After a very deflating week which saw Real Madrid knocked out of the Copa del Rey as well as falling 12 points behind current league leaders FC Barcelona in the title race, they now take on Ajax as they know that their only chance of winning silverware this season is to win an unprecedented 4th consecutive UEFA Champions League trophy.
Real Madrid head into this match with an advantage after beating the Dutch club 2-1 in the Netherlands in a match that saw them suffer to a tactically superior side. Nevertheless, it is the result that mattered in the end and now they have to finish the job at the Santiago Bernabeu, the same stadium that has seen them lose twice to Barcelona in the past two games.
No matter how difficult it may be, Real Madrid has to put the past behind them and focus on their favorite competition right now. There is still a very long way to go before they can really dream of winning the title but going through against Ajax in the Round of 16 second-leg is the first step.
“Losing two games against your biggest rival is not something that makes you feel good. We’re hurt, but the important thing is that tomorrow’s game comes very soon and there is no time to dwell on it. We have to focus on the Champions League and try to forget what happened and put in a good performance, try to win and we’re ready.
We’ve worked well these last two days. In the games against Barça, especially in the cup, we did badly and that’s why I think we have to continue and trust that the goals will come. We’re in good spirits even though we have lost these two games” were the words by Luka Modric in his pre-match press conference as he aimed to give Madridista’s something to look forward to.
It’s no secret that Real Madrid has struggled this season, particularly when it came to goals and even though they had an improvement not too long ago, it seems like they have begun struggling yet again, which could potentially be a problem against an Ajax side who will come out with all their weapons.
“It’s a mixture of things. We have to be more clinical, have more presence. It’s part of our job and we must try to improve it. Luck is a component and it exists. Real has had a lot of chances in the last matches and we have to put them away as we have done in other matches.
That’s the way it is and that’s football” said Santiago Solari when asked about the problems that Real Madrid had in front of goal.
📝 Our 21-man squad for the clash against @AFCAjax! #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/r6ItrqHXo3
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 4, 2019
Los Blancos go into this match with almost a fully fit squad other than Marcos Llorente who continues to recover from his injury which he received in the Copa del Rey first-leg against Barcelona. Sergio Ramos hasn’t been called up due to suspension while Alvaro Odriozola sees himself off the squad list yet again due to coaching decisions alongside Brahim Diaz. Two players will have to be cut before the match.
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Don’t expect Solari to make a lot of changes to the team that started El Clasico as he’ll want to name his strongest possible starting eleven and leave the rotations for La Liga. The only expected changes will be Nacho filling in for Sergio Ramos while Vazquez may be picked to start ahead of Gareth Bale on the right.
Predicted Starting Lineup:
Thibaut Courtois, Daniel Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Nacho Fernandez, Sergio Reguilon, Carlos Casemiro, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema