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
Search for missing football player resumes in English Channel. Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala feared dead after his plane disappeared over the English Channel on Monday. 23 Jan 2019 11:52 GMT.
Football: Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala
Football: Spain in charge of Group F after beating Sweden | The Star Online 5 hours ago MADRID (Reuters) - Spain made it four wins out of 4 and took control of their Euro 2020 qualifying neighborhood via beating closest rivals Sweden 3-0 on Monday after overpowering the visitors within the second part with two consequences and a overdue strike
Flipboard: Spain in charge in qualifying quest after beating
Ikhsan Fandi will be the first Singaporean footballer to ply his trade in Europe in 30 years after he penned a two-year contract with Norwegian second tier side Raufoss IL, the club announced on
Ikhsan Fandi scores first competitive goal for Norwegian club
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri afp.com. 16 mins ago. Trump joins the Queen for D-Day anniversary. Russian jet intercepts US aircraft 3 times in 3 hours
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still
Foilboards: How the F*ck Do They Work? Laird Hamilton, foiled again. But Laird Hamilton riding a foil board, on the other hand? What kind of magic is at play here? Seriously, how in the
Hamilton Tickets 2019 | Hamilton Broadway Musical
AD
The tape says Crime Scene but what should say is sleepless nights and cold sweats. The true face of this city can always be found behind the yellow tape. stop writing shitty paragraph stories that sound like an illiterate grader wrote "Good news or bad news?" "Shoot" "Good news, it fits the other murders. Bad news, it's another murder.
Chelsea manager has become one of the first people in the history of humankind to praise Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho's 'human quality.' Sarri has admitted that Mourinho's understanding after he became embroiled in a touchline fracas with Blues assistant Marco Ianni at Stamford Bridge last month has left a lasting impression on him.
Maurizio Sarri convinces wantaway star to - football.london
Footballer Emiliano Sala's family grieved on Friday after British authorities formally identified his body as the one recovered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel more than two weeks ago.
Family mourn Sala after body in Channel wreckage identified
The Toffees headed into Sunday's match-up without a win in any of their previous four Premier League matches at their historic home, but they got back to winning ways thanks to goals from on-loan Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma and young attacker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Zouma rose highest to head home the opening goal
Reds & Toffees win, Blues lose | FOX Sports
Football great Pele has been released from the hospital in Paris and will return to Brazil in the "coming hours," Brazilian media reported Monday, citing his spokesman. The 78-year-old's discharge came after Neymar paid him a visit in hospital in the suburbs of the French capital.
The Australian Financial Review; Football: Australian Joe Palatsides set to replace Belgian Michel Sablon as FAS' new technical director The Straits Times; Australia squad for women's World Cup
Football: Football Association of Singapore appoints Joseph
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen