18 Sep 2013: FC Barcelona - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

UEFA Champions League 2013-2014. Group H. Matchday 1.

Kick-off time at the Camp Nou is 20:45 CET.

Well, there we have it. Barça vs Ajax. Dream fixture. One to be a tiny little bit afraid of, too. Perhaps. On the other hand: why?

Amazing but true: this is the very first time these two clubs meet in official UEFA competition. Never happened before. Plenty of games aganinst Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Valencia and even the second Barcelona team, Espanyol, but not against the Blaugrana. Unique moment, as these two clubs have so much in common. Don't be surprised if you see Johan Cruijff's face or read his name once or twice in the upcoming weeks...

K.

[Orange14]

Christian Poulsen will man mark Messi out of the game! (but of course this will mean Neymar and Alexis each score three goals)

[Cruijff]

Easy win for Ajax.

[aveslacker]

Easy win for Ajax.

IK GELOOF OOK!!!!!!

[Orange14]

Nice article by Sid Lowe on Cruijff's influence at Ajax and Barca: http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/laliga/id/666?cc=5901

[Philippe]

Wondering if Siem de Jong will play.

[Cruijff]

Easy win for Ajax.

IK GELOOF OOK!!!!!!

I have changed my prognose a little bit. I count on a 2-2 draw. Bojan Krkic will be shit against PEC Zwolle, but also the star of the game in Camp Nou. Together with Duarte.

Unfortunately, I will not attend this game.

[Ayman]

Since Siem de Jong is not fit enough to start, I say start Bojan Krkic as a number 9 with Fischer and Sana on the flanks, in midfield it should be Duarte-Blind-Serero, Also put Klaassen and Veltman on the bench and bring them on if things go right.

[Orange14]

@Ayman - Veltman is still out injured.

[Tom_]

And I think de Boer has said Siem is fit enough to start.

[Amol]

I'm really worried about this fixture. Won't be watching the game but will be following online.

[Cruijff]

1-2 win for Ajax. With Lerin Duarte as goal scorer.

Since Siem de Jong is not fit enough to start, I say start Bojan Krkic as a number 9 with Fischer and Sana on the flanks, in midfield it should be Duarte-Blind-Serero, Also put Klaassen and Veltman on the bench and bring them on if things go right.

Siem will start, he's able to play about 60 minutes.

[Kowalczyk]

Here's some pre-game reading on the English version of Ajax.nl: CHECK.

K.

[Orange14]

Our quest for a fifth CL star begins today!!! We'll snatch a goal or two from the weak Barca defense; the big question is how our defenders will stand up to the task. I would settle for a draw in the Nou Camp.

EDIT: good and candid article on Bojan: http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsan ... is/id/1843

[Van basten]

Yesterday saw Magazine UEFA CL on tv. I qoute the announcer: ''On wednesday the eye catching match is between european heavyweights Barcelona and Ajax''. We are one of the european heavyweights people!

[Cruijff]

We are one of the european heavyweights people!

Everyone knows that Mister Van basten!!

My sources say this is the line-up: Vermeer; Blind, Moisander, Denswil, Van Rhijn; De Jong, Poulsen, Duarte; Fischer, Sigthorsson, Bojan.

[Cruijff]

Not a bad line-up at all. Altough I did prefer Viktor Fischter starting on the bench. In a big match like this he is more dangerous when he comes in as a substitute in my eyes.

[Van basten]

We are one of the european heavyweights people!

Everyone knows that Mister Van basten!!

My sources say this is the line-up: Vermeer; Blind, Moisander, Denswil, Van Rhijn; De Jong, Poulsen, Duarte; Fischer, Sigthorsson, Bojan.

Well, Denswil said in interview, that he'll eat Messi alive, so no problem today

[Cruijff]

Well, Denswil said in interview, that he'll eat Messi alive, so no problem today

Yes Stefano will PLOP Lionel Messi for sure!

[Orange14]

It's going to be fun!!!!

[Tom_]

Yep, really looking forward to this one. Actually, I expect our style will make it easy for Barça to keep the ball, and they obviously have the quality to break down our defence, so I won't be too surprised if we let in several goals... but who knows?

[Cruijff]

Yes Thomas, you never know how it works out. Perhaps Barcelona will suffer a hard time with our play style or with the good headers from Siem de Jong.

In any case I expect we will do better than Wesley Sneijder yesterday with their 1-6 lose against Real Madrid. Altough Galatasaray began the match really good in my opinion.


Edit, correction: no Duarte but Schöne in the line-up. Shit.

[King Litti]

Excited! I hope we will see a beautifull game that goes from end to end.

Though I fear the very strong and active pressing by Barca will make our guys lose possession or force them to give weak passes. We really need to move and look for those good passing lanes and have the courage and skill to hold on to the ball until we find one.

Also we need to defend as a team because Barce attacks as a team. Barca has very offensive defenders like Alves so our wingers will have to help our defence. And when we get the ball and hopefully at least one of their wing backs is up the field we need to counter fast and use the empty space behind them.

This can be a night to remember (in good or bad, but let's hope that in good)

[Cruijff]

Telegraaf & Algemeen Dagblad have been fooled by Frank de Boer with the line-up predictions.

It seems like Fischer will start on the bench! Boilesen will be left winger as he will have to face Dani Alves. Kolbeinn Sigthórsson will be the right winger and Bojan Krkic will have a free role as striker.

[Van basten]

Not the best time to play against Barca. They want to wash the shame after the way they lost to Bayern last year (0-7 an ag.). It can be very long evening at Camp Nou.. A draw would be a dream result.