Ajax and APOEL measure forces in Amsterdam ArenA, in a second leg of this phase of the UEFA Champions League (Play-offs), after the draw for (0-0) in the first leg. Particular attention is needed for the home / away condition, since both teams have significantly different results at home and abroad.
Ajax:
After the goalless draw away in the first leg, the home team needs to win at home to achieve the qualification. This is a team that curiously has been stronger as a visitor than in their home games, since in the last 30 matches it records 11 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss as a visitor; against 10 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in his stadium. In the last 10 games played at home for all competitions, Ajax won 7, drew 2 and lost 1. The team allowed goals to the opponent in 7 of the last 10 games, so his defense needs to improve, but his attack has scored regularly, as he scored goals in 9 of the last 10 games. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since in 57 of their last 61 games there were more than 1.5 goals and in 47 of the last 61 there were more than 2.5 goals. In 15 games, he suffered the first goal 6 times, but got the comeback in 2.
Ajax arrives at this second match after a 0-0 draw in the APOEL visit, taking all the knockout decisions for their stadium. We remember that the home team eliminated PAOK in the previous round of the Champions League. Usually, coach Erik ten Hag plays 4-3-3, favoring possession of the ball and organized attacks: Donny van de Beek is responsible for creating the team’s offensive process. It should be noted that Ajax has great competence in the transition from defense to attack, completion and defensive stopped balls. For this match, the coach cannot count on Mazraoui, suspended, in addition to Promes and Eiting, players recovering from injury.
APOEL :
The away team comes to this second leg after a goalless draw with the advantage of not having suffered goals at home in the first leg. This is a team that curiously conquers more positive results as a visitor than at home, since in the last 30 matches it records 9 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses as a visitor, with 26 goals scored and 16 suffered; against 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses in his stadium, with 22 goals scored and 11 suffered. In the last 10 games played as a visitor for all competitions, APOEL won 5, drew 2 and lost 3. The defense has been strong and only suffered goals in 1 of the last 5 matches, and its attack has scored regularly, since He scored goals in 4 of the last 5 games for this competition.
APOEL comes to this second game after having tied at home 0-0 with Ajax, wasting the advantage of having the support of their fans to win a positive result. In previous rounds of the Champions League, the Cypriots eliminated Sutjeska and Qarabag. In this game away from home, coach Thomas Doll must present a defensive strategy with a low bloquo, seeking only the counterattack. Defensive midfielder Lucas Souza is one of the best weapons of this APOEL, being a very important player in the team’s style of play. Apparently, the coach can count on all the players at his disposal.
