[av_heading heading=’Ajax End Madrids 1,011 Day Reign’ tag=’h1′ link=’manually,http://’ link_target=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ margin=” padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” custom_class=” id=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”][/av_heading]
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Ajax delivered Real Madrids worst ever Champions League home defeat to them as they lose 4-1!
On Tuesday night Real Madrids 1,011 day tenure as champions of Europe came to an end. Ajax managed to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit to win 5-3 on aggregate. This has added intense pressure to Real Madrids players, manager and president as it now looks they’ll go a season without any trophies.
Ajax had to take their young and inexperienced squad to the Bernabeu and produce a performance of a life time, and thats exactly what they did. Captained by 19 year old Matthijs de Ligt, the Dutch team had to score twice to go through.
The game
Real Madrid started the game well and were unlucky not to take an early lead through Varane. His header from six yards out smash against the cross bar. This woke up the Ajax team who then really put Madrid on the back foot. Two goals within the first 18 minutes for the visitors and Ajax were in dreamland. Notably both goals were set up by ex-Southampton attacker Tadic who is loving life in Amsterdam with his new club.
The second goal came from a fantastic piece of skill from Tadic when he pirouetted past Casemiro and played a lovely through ball for the goal. If the night couldn’t get any worse Real were hit with injuries to Vazquez and Vinicius meaning Bale and Asensio had to come on. Bale had to prove himself after being on the receiving end of much criticism recently. He did hit the post but that was his main contribution.
Ajax started the second half on the back foot as Madrid knew they had to go out and score. However, another moment of magic from Tadic all but ended the night. After a good passage of play he found him self in front of goal 15 yards out. One touch out his feet and he rifled the ball into Courtois’ top corner. The goal was allowed after a four minute VAR stoppage to see if the ball had gone out of for a throwing moments before the ball went in.
Asensio pulled one back for the home side with 18 minutes to go and belief grew. Real had to score two to win but you wouldn’t put it past them. This belief was shattered two minutes later when Schone scored the pick of the goals. A looping free kick from near the touchline over Courtois ensured Ajax went through.
This is the first year Los Blancos haven’t been in the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2010, Ronaldo’s first season at the club. It was a strange atmosphere in Madrid as fans seemed to have realised they’ve come to the end of their domination. The Balon d’Or winner Modric was kept very quiet by soon-to-be Barcelona player De Jong. Gareth Bale and the rest of Madrids ageing squad also nowhere to be seen. It appears as though a major clear out is on the horizon for Real.
In the other Champions League game Spurs beat Dortmund 1-0 away to win 4-0 on aggregate. They have progressed through to the quarter finals for the first time since 2010/11. Bet365 have the extremely impressive Ajax at 25/1 to go on and win the tournament. If they can knock the reigning champions out for the last three years then who can’t they beat?! Spurs are at 14/1 on Bet365 to win the Champions League for the first time and are only looking stronger each game.
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