Ajax Real Madrid will face entirely different from the team that had defeated them last year in the same group in the Champions League, when the two clashed at the Santiago Bernabeu early day.
Los Merengues absolute winning 2-0 at home to Ajax in the Bernabeu last September in the opening match of Group G, and back wins when they travel to Amsterdam Arena in November - even with a score of more soundly, 4-0!
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals at that time in Amsterdam as well as get rid of Ajax out of the competition group, with the added one goal each from Karim Benzema and defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
But De Amsterdammers condition that the Eredivisie last season champion, is now much different. "Ajax is now better than a year ago. They are practically reinforced one-year players who have played together. So they'll get experience," said assistant coach Madrid, Aitor Karanka in a press conference.
"We expect a more challenging game, not an easy win like last year," said Karanka, who replaced Jose Mourinho.
Victory over Ajax middle of this week will ensure the position of Real Madrid at the top of Group D, which also contains representatives of France, Lyon and Dynamo Zagreb of Croatia.
Facts:
Prior to its knees last season, Ajax is more dominant in the second meeting of this team and even they still hold a better record with four victories while Madrid only three, and other games end in a draw.
Estimated Real Madrid Players:
Casillas; Ramos, Varane, Albiol, Arbeloa; Di Maria, Ozil, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo; Benzema
Estimated Ajax Players:
Vermeer; Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita; De Jong, Eriksen, Janssen; Sulejmani, Sigthorsson, Boerrigter (AFP / uefa / row)
