Ajax vs Juventus: Preview, Dream XI and more
Ajax and Juventus are set to battle it out in a crunch UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg clash. Both teams progressed into the last eight with superb victories in the round of 16 against Real and Atletico Madrid respectively. Hosts Ajax will be aiming to get hold of their famed opponents. Here is the match preview, team news and Fantasy XI.
The big news for Juve is that talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is available for the encounter. Ronaldo was nursing a thigh strain and hasn't featured for the club since he scored a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid on March 12. Giorgio Chiellini misses out with a calf strain. Emre Can also is out with an ankle issue. Ajax have no injury issues at the moment.
"It will be another big obstacle to overcome after Real, but we will play as usual and we will have to be good at reading the game," said Ajax boss Erik ten Hag. "Ronaldo? He trained well with the team, he is available and tomorrow he will be the holder, unless something happens," said Juve manager Allegri.
Serie A champions Juventus are unbeaten in each of their past nine European matches against Ajax (W5 D4). The Dutch side is set to host Juve in a Champions League encounter for the first time since September 2004. Ajax are in the quarters for the first time since 2002-03. Juventus have reached the quarters for the third successive season.
Juventus goalie Wojciech Szczesny leads the line on goal. There is a four-man defense with Leonardo Bonucci and Daniele Rugani forming the central partnership. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui fit in as the full-backs. The four-man mid-field sees Miralem Pjanic, Paulo Dybala, Lasse Schone and David Neres providing cushion. Cristiano Ronaldo (captain) and Dusan Tadic (vice-captain) are the two forwards.
The match is set to be held at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. It is going to start at 12:30 AM IST. The match can be telecast live on the Sony Ten Network. One can stream the match live on the Sony LIV app.
