AMSTERDAM • With 64 goals in the knockout stages, there remains no better clutch player in Champions League history than Cristiano Ronaldo, a lesson that Ajax learnt the hard way on Wednesday.
The burgeoning Dutch side, who are likely to be broken up at the end of this campaign, had 61 per cent possession of the ball and were fluent in attack as they showed their elimination of Real Madrid in the previous round was no fluke.
Erik ten Hag's men also peppered Wojciech Szczesny's goal with 19 shots, although only six were on target. If there is anything his team lack, it is the presence of a clinical forward like Ronaldo.
While Juventus had to "suffer" in front of a raucous Johan Cruyff Arena, they can boast of the competition's record scorer (125). And, in his first game in a month, all Ronaldo needed was one chance - a diving header to give his team the upper hand for the quarter-final reverse fixture at home on April 16.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed Ronaldo as "on a different level" after their only shot on target yielded a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with Brazilian winger David Neres equalising for Ajax.
The Italian, who is looking to guide his team to their first Champions League trophy since 1996, said: "His timing and movement are different to everyone else's, there's nothing you can do about it. He is a player who just has a different technique than the others.
64Â
Cristiano Ronaldo's goals in the Champions League knockout stages, more than any player including Lionel Messi (42) in second place and even some clubs:Â
53 ArsenalÂ
49 LiverpoolÂ
38 Dortmund/PSG/PortoÂ
34 LyonÂ
33 Atletico Madrid, Inter, MonacoÂ
31 Ajax
"Ajax have great quality, but we defended well and finished the game better. It's a good result because we scored away from home, so the tie is still open.
"We were good defensively, nice and compact. There is good reason to think we can get to the semi-finals. We have great respect for Ajax, but you have to be ready."
Ten Hag admitted that it "isn't exactly what we were hoping for, but it is still a good result".
The Dutchman said: "The last time we lost 2-1 at home to Real Madrid, so everything is still alive for us. In a lot of the phases of the game, we were better. We were excellent in our transitions."
However, he acknowledged that with Ronaldo as the spearhead, his men will be up against it as "they are quick to pounce on a mistake".
He added: "You saw that with the goal of Cristiano Ronaldo. Even if you are running with him and tracking back, he is incredibly quick."
Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt, who is heavily rumoured to make a blockbuster move in the summer, also called on his teammates not to be overawed in Turin.
He said: "It's not for nothing we have made it to the quarter-finals. In the return leg, we'll have to give everything because Juventus are incredibly difficult."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
And in Madrid this morning, Klopp completed his journey with a 2-0 victory over a Spurs side that boasted seven members of the same starting XI who took to the park for his first outing in red.
Jurgen Klopp the most important figure at Liverpool, says
Jürgen Klopp has set Liverpool a mammoth points target and hailed the Anfield atmosphere, report the Liverpool Echo. The Reds performed when the pressure was on once again, beating Chelsea 2-0 thanks to early second half goals from Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's f ighting spirit as he sets
SINGAPORE - Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Winston Lee withdrew his candidacy for one of nine seats on the executive committee members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), just before the Asian football body's congress in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (April 6).
Ng: Lee requested and facilitated donation, not ex-FAS
Eden Hazard hit the winning penalty for Chelsea to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday and reach the Europa League final where they will meet fellow Londoners Arsenal. The lively semi-final contest had finished 1-1 after the sides had produced the same scoreline in Frankfurt a week ago.
Chelsea reach Europa League final after penalty win
Juventus manger Massimiliano Allegri has claimed he is 'confident' Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to take on Ajax this week.. The attacker sat out Juve's 2-1 victory against AC Milan on
Juventus' Ronaldo a doubt to face Ajax in Champions League
global.espn.com/football/juventus/story/3810925/juventus-ronaldo-a-doubt-to-face-ajax-in-champions-league-allegri
Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for the Champions League quarterfinal against Ajax after being left out of the Juventus squad to face Empoli on Saturday with a muscular injury. Ronaldo pulled up with an injury half an hour into Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Monday and will miss his third Serie A game in a row after being rested for the 4-1
Cristiano Ronaldo Doubtful For Ajax Clash, Says Coach
For more details kindly check website
Nov 14, 2014 · SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian hospital says Pele is "recovering well" after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement Friday that the 74-year
Pele 'recovering well' after kidney stones surgery - Yahoo Sports
Football: Hugo Lloris warns Spurs teammates against
De Gea, who is hailed as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, misread the flight of Xhaka's long-range effort and watched in horror as the ball flew by him. No United fans can take the
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp. City and Liverpool are vying for the title, while Spurs face competition from Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea for a top-four finish.
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp | Sport24
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League - Guardiola. sports March 12, 2019 09:00. By AFP . 2,406 Viewed
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League
Eriksen demands strong finish - theworldnews.net
Football: Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused LONDON (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the growing expectation that Liverpool can lift the league title for the first time in 29 years saying his players must stay focussed after they thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday (Dec 29).
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused - The 1873 TV
0 comments:
Post a Comment