UCL preview: Dortmund vs Ajax
second showdown in this season's Champions League between the two entertaining and attack-eager teams, Dortmund and Ajax, takes place on Wednesday night. The first showdown in Amsterdam ended somewhat surprisingly with a decided demonstration of power by the home team, which showed how Dutch total football should be played and smashed Dortmund 4-0 and conquered lay alone in front of the group.
The German big club from the Ruhr district will, for all intents and purposes, try to rectify the big defeat of the previous showdown in front of a minimum of 80,000 home fans in Dortmund. In the applause against Ajax, only Dortmund had only one recipe for chances - Erling Håland. The Norwegian was dangerous on the chances he got during the match and was the only one who posed a danger to a well-playing Ajax team.
In the domestic German Bundesliga, Die Schwarzgelben is well in the top just one point behind the leading team Bayern Munich. Dortmund have long had a problem with conceding a number of goals, which they have recently rectified by being solid behind. Offensively, Håland, Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard will probably lead and try to make life miserable for the Ajax defense.
In the last match against Dortmund, the Dutch champions gave a demonstration of how total football should be played. Ajax stood incredibly high with their two backs while their midfield rotated and advanced. Dortmund could not stop this at all, who were especially vulnerable on the edges. In addition to blowing forward and constantly attacking their opponents, Ajax have also established a good defensive, which only two conceded goals in 11 Honorary Division matches and one in the Champions League testify to.
In attack, Sebastian Haller has proven to be a perfect purchase, as he can both score himself and set up his teammates. In midfield, Serbian captain Dusan Tadic controls the offensive pace and loves a good assist. In central defense, Lisandro Martinez and Jurrien Timber have done absolutely superbly as mentioned before, letting almost nothing go past them.