Ajax vs Juventus
Uefa Champions League 2018-19
Quarter-final, first leg
Venue: Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
Date: Wednesday, 10 April, 2019
Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
After completing sensational comebacks in their respective last-16 ties, Ajax and Juventus meet at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Wednesday ready to battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The Dutch giants recovered from a home defeat against Real Madrid to win 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to pull off one of the most memorable comebacks in the competition’s recent history.
Their reward for that incredible display in Madrid is being drawn against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus, who are on the verge of wrapping up the Serie A title for the eighth year in a row.
Max Allegri’s side have three times in the competition this season, having been beaten by Young Boys and Manchester United in the group stage, but the Old Lady are still sure-fire favourites to make the last four.
Can the Eredivisie outfit pull off another shock by winning the quarter-final first leg or will Ronaldo get a chance to win a sixth Champions League winners’ medal?
Scroll down for our comprehensive preview…
Ajax vs Juventus team news and predicted line-ups
Neither Ajax nor Juventus have any suspension issues to worry about given that yellow cards wiped at this stage of the competition.
The Dutch league leaders come into this game with a clean bill of health after beating Willem II 4-1 on Saturday.
Noussair Mazraoui is expected to return at right-back after missing that game through suspension, with Joel Veltman likely to drop down to the bench for the European tie.
Hassane Bande (fibula) and Carel Eiting (knee) are long-term absentees and won’t be involved in the squad.
Ajax XI: Onana: Mazraoui, de Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Schone, F De Jong, van de Beek; Ziyech, Tadic, Neres.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been passed fit to play for Juventus, Allegri has told Sky Italia.
Ronaldo was rested by the Turin club after his sensational hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in the last round of the Champions League on March 12, but picked up a thigh strain while on international duty with Portugal last month.
Although Juve will be without defender Giorgio Chiellini and midfielder Emre Can, the return of Ronaldo will be a massive boost as they seek to end their 23-year wait to lift the Champions League trophy.
Juventus XI: Szczesny; Rugani, Bonucci, Barzagli; Joao Cancelo, Pjanic, Matuidi, Spinazzola; Bernadeschi, Ronaldo, Mandzukic.
Score prediction: Ajax 1-2 Juventus
If an under-performing Real Madrid side can come to the Johan Cruyff ArenA and pick up a win, a much more capable Juventus side should have no trouble in doing so.
Ajax are unlikely to roll over, given how they performed against Bayern Munich in the group stage, and have scored over 100 goals in all competitions this season. But expect Ronaldo and co. to be too strong for Erik ten Hag’s men.
Ajax vs Juventus tickets
Tickets are sold out for the first leg in Amsterdam, according to the club’s official ticketing website.
The return fixture is sold out for Juventus members and will go on general sale until April 16.
