Ajaxtalk

Ajax travel to Breda to take on NAC. Ziyech is sidelined for two weeks because of a knee strain picked up while playing for Morocco and will miss this and the AEK match according to reports. I have not seen any other injury reports.

One change (Neres for Ziyech) to the usual lineup forced because of the injury to Ziyech.

Lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Schöne, De Jong, Van de Beek, Neres, Dolberg, Tadic.

Substitutes: Lamprou, Kristensen, Wöber, Huntelaar, Labyad, De Wit, Cerny, Ekkelenkamp.

Hopefully we take an early lead and sub in Wober for Nico (Nico is suspended at AEK), Cerny for Tadic and De Wit for De Jong.

Very boring first half. Ajax ahead because of an own goal. Really need to step up the pace in the second half.

not much to add, boring half lucky og.

Was 8-0 last time but dont see us getting 8 today !

They have clogged up the center of the pitch which is forcing all our attacks in the wings. Very boring indeed. NAC has also been hacking at our players a bit and started getting cards towards the end of the half.

I was thinking that Cerny coming in at LW, Schone out, Tadic at #10 and De Jong at DM. Ten Haag brings on Labyad for Donny who picked up a slight injury at the end of the 1st half.

GOAL!! Labyad. 0-2!!

Amol schreef:GOAL!! Labyad. 0-2!!

Great volley

What a beautiful goal.Neres should have got one a minute or 2 earlier from a superb pass by Schone ,I believe.

0-3 and no major injuries. I'll take that after a 2 week break.

Hopefully Heerenveen best PSV later this afternoon.

Comfortable win ,should really have seen a 5-0 here,74% possession . I still love seeing KJH score but a younger KJH would actually have had 3 in those 12 mins . He nearly connected from a cross after he had scored and earlier having been on 2 mins his shot was turned round by the goalie but a younger sharper KJH would have buried it. At 35 we still dont have anyone much better though .I am biased still one of my favourite Ajax players.

74% possession and some stretches with some very good passing but in the end just an average performance in front of goal. A couple of shots off the post or crossbar and two right at van Leer. Defense was sketchy in the last ten minutes of the match and needs to tighten up for the trip to Athens. Ajax draw within two points of PSV who host Heerenveen later on.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6.5) - two really nice saves
Tagliafico (6.5) - really nice cross for the Huntelaar to put away but maybe should have been subbed off so Wöber would have more game time
Blind (6.5) - solid defending and good distribution of the ball
de Ligt (6.5) - sloppy on the ball one time but otherwise very good
Mazraoui (5.5) - almost called for a penalty but the VAR fortunately didn't see anything in it
Schöne (6.5) - good match and took all the free kicks in the absence of Ziyech
de Jong (6.5) - very good passing match
van de Beek (5.5) - active in the first half and subbed off because of a leg injury
Tadic (6) - tried to create danger on the left wing with variable success
Dolberg (6) - had a couple of chance but shot right at van Leer
Neres (6.5) - clanged a hard one off the crossbar
Labyad (6.5) - really nice volley for goal 2 and had a good half of football
Huntelaar (6) - nicely taken goal but had a decent chance for a hat trick in only 10 or so minutes of football
Wöber (NR)

Off to Athens and with a win Ajax move on to the knockout round of the Champions League