27 NOV 2018; AEK - Ajax; CL Group Match Day 5

[Orange14]

Ajax are off to Athens for a match with AEK with a spot in the knockout stage to play for. A win tomorrow sends Ajax through as does a Benfica loss in Munich to Bayern. I would not count on the latter situation as Bayern have been badly off form and suffered another humiliating performance over the weekend with a 3-3 draw to 17th place Dusseldorf.

Ziyech misses the game because of injury and Tagliafico is suspended. Ajax has taken 20 players to Athens including Mitchell Bakker, Per Schuurs, Dani de Wit, Vaclav Cerny and Dominik Kotarski. Two of the players will have to be dropped for the game day match (my guess is 3rd keeper Kotarski and Cerny).

Lets seal the deal!!!!!!

[Orange14]

Since this game has an early kickoff time, it will be carried on live TV in the US on the TNT cable network!!

[Cruijff]

I'm still a bit surprised we haven't seen SaddlerIan around on this message board as Ajax is now playing in the country where he decided to live.

He came here last summer when Ajax were playing the Saddlers.

Great weather yesterday in Athens, the restaurants provided a huge amount of food.
Still a lot poverty and many drugs addicts to see over here, but the city looks much cleaner than last time I visited.

[Orange14]

@Cruijff - have fun at the match and don't cause any trouble!

[Amol]

I'm still a bit surprised we haven't seen SaddlerIan around on this message board as Ajax is now playing in the country where he decided to live.

I was thinking the same thing as well . I've complained to SaddlerIan that we don't see enough of him when things are going well

[Ayman]

I'm still a bit surprised we haven't seen SaddlerIan around on this message board as Ajax is now playing in the country where he decided to live.

I was thinking the same thing as well . I've complained to SaddlerIan that we don't see enough of him when things are going well

My thoughts exactly. When the chips are down he sends 'tough love'

[saddlerian]

I'm still a bit surprised we haven't seen SaddlerIan around on this message board as Ajax is now playing in the country where he decided to live.

I was thinking the same thing as well . I've complained to SaddlerIan that we don't see enough of him when things are going well

My thoughts exactly. When the chips are down he sends 'tough love'

No problem today....I'm here!! Watched the u19s demolish AEK this afternoon...quick coffee, then off to ground..nice, late autumn evening, 17C...dodgy pitch (like this afternoon...very hard), so let's hope for a win and qualification for group stage.!!

Get you after the game...only ferry back is at 10pm so stuck here for the night...probably find a bar somewhere!!

[SPL]

Cruijff and Ian enjoy yourselves in Athens,hopefully with a win.

[SPL]

Boring so far ,Neres had the only chance with a header but they at the end had a chance

[Amol]

Only saw the last 15 minutes of the 1st half, but it seems like they are playing at 'stuck in 3rd gear'/'Eredivisie' pace.

A better team than AEK/better forward than Ponce would've put away the chance in the last minute. Big mistake by Wober on that one.

[kezme44]

yawn. let's hope it becomes livelier 2nd half

[Orange14]

AEK dropping way back and defending. As SPL noted only the Neres header was dangerous but it was too soft. Ajax need to rotate the ball much faster to create any space.

[SPL]

Tadic a penalty 1-0

[SPL]

Tadic 2-0

[Amol]

2-0!!

Until 10 minutes ago, I was hoping for a Benfica loss/draw later today. Now, I'm hoping for a Benfica win. Funny game this.

[Amol]

Get a couple of the kids in now. Cerny and Bakker maybe?

[Ayman]

Ajax just need another goal, provided that Bayern win by a single goal margin against Benfica, assuming they will win tonight.

[kezme44]

round of 16 here we come!!!!

[SPL]

Once we got the penalty it was a case of 1 more and we could coast it and thats what happened.Onana had 2 saves
to make all night.

Still see us beating Bayern for top spot. Bayern look on the way down a bit but even if we finish 2nd we are in the last 16 and more coefficient points for Holland in the UEFA rankings.

Cruijff and Saddler Ian celebrating in Athens tonight

[Orange14]

Into the final 16 of the Champions League with a bit of a pedestrian performance. Ajax were poor in ball rotation and playing speed which allowed AEK to set up a bank of 8 and sometimes 9 too easily. The double pivot of de Jong and Schöne were to close to one another to create any openings. Neres had the only chance of the first half but could not get enough power on the header. Tadic scored the match winner from the spot on a somewhat weak penalty call by Michael Oliver for a hand ball. I thought it could have gone either way as the arm was still close to the body. Ajax now on 11 points and can keep the group lead if Bayern slip to Benfica in Munich.

Player Ratings:

Obama (7) - had two tough plays to make and made them both but otherwise was not troubled
Blind (7) - really good on the ball and defended OK
Wöber (6.5) - other than whiffing on the ball at the end of the first half and causing some danger for Onana had a fine match with several good interventions
de Ligt (7) - solid match on defense
Mazraoui (6) - some slip ups on defense but they were far enough away from goal to matter much
Schöne (6.5) - decent enough match
de Jong (6.5) - decent but not up to his high standards
van de Beek (7) - solid enough with some good runs, shame his toe poke went off the post
Tadic (7.5) - had some very ordinary moments but three very nice ones and the brace gets him my MOTM
Dolberg (5.5) - drew some fouls but that was it, no incisive runs
Neres (6.5) - had one chance on goal but was not terribly dangerous otherwise
Huntelaar (6) - above average coming in for Dolberg
Labyad (5.5) - good to see him getting more match time
Kristensen (5.5) - good enough in a sub role

Now we wait for Bayern-Benfica

[kezme44]

with the round of 16 qualification, ajax have pulled in 62 million euros. crazy how the money adds up in the CL. for those that want to see the breakdown:

https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/zilvervloot-va ... -inkomsten

[Orange14]

Arjen Robben with two early goals and Bayern are up 3-0 at the half. They are a very good team with Robben and just ordinary without him. Looks like Ajax will have to win at the Arena to take first.

[Cruijff]

Hmmm I hoped for a 1-3 win for Benfica or perhaps a 3-5 so that Ajax would not only play for the group win but also to eliminate Bayern.

Thanks for the players ratings Orange14.

[Ayman]

Robben picked up a yellow card. I wonder how many he picked up before this game. Is there anyway of knowing if he will miss the next game?

[Cruijff]

Cruijff and Saddler Ian celebrating in Athens tonight

Yup I'dd say we'll have to find some nice bars as Ian has to stay in the drinking mood and for me at 11.14 pm local time the night is by far not over.

let's hope for a win and qualification for group stage.!!

Get you after the game...only ferry back is at 10pm so stuck here for the night...probably find a bar somewhere!!

Ahhh your up for an all night out until the first boat.
I'll go quick to my accommodation somewhere between the Acropolis and the student night life district Gazi.

Let's get some cold ones in a good bar then