Cristiano Ronaldo will spearhead Juventus’ old guard as it looks to finish the job on Tuesday against Ajax’s impressive young guns in a quarter-final clash between two sides desperate to end years of Champions League heartbreak.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Turin:
Juventus has won the CL twice, most recently in 1996 when it beat Ajax in the final. Four-time winner Ajax won its third consecutive title in 1973 at the expense of Juve, last lifting the trophy in 1995. Home coach Allegri said he was prepared for “a difficult match against a very impressive team”.
Ronaldo was rested at the weekend along with regulars Leonardo Bonucci, Blaise Matuidi, Alex Sandro, Mario Mandzukic and Miralem Pjanic. For Matthijs de Ligt-led Ajax, Daley Blind and forward Dusan Tadic provide leadership for a young squad where the average age is 24 years.
Strike-force of 22-year-old Neres, Tadic and Hakim Ziyech have proven effective this season. Veteran Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also hit form with a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Excelsior in the Dutch league at the weekend. But midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 21, is uncertain to start after going off clutching his hamstring.
Juventus has the edge on away goals, thanks to Ronaldo’s 125th CL goal in a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam. But Ajax’s David Neres ensured the teams will start on a knife-edge in Turin in a repeat of the 1973 and 1996 finals. The host has put its bid to wrap up an eighth consecutive Serie A title on the back burner as it focuses on its European ambitions.
Juventus has won the CL twice, most recently in 1996 when it beat Ajax in the final. Four-time winner Ajax won its third consecutive title in 1973 at the expense of Juve, last lifting the trophy in 1995. Home coach Allegri said he was prepared for “a difficult match against a very impressive team”.
Ronaldo was rested at the weekend along with regulars Leonardo Bonucci, Blaise Matuidi, Alex Sandro, Mario Mandzukic and Miralem Pjanic. For Matthijs de Ligt-led Ajax, Daley Blind and forward Dusan Tadic provide leadership for a young squad where the average age is 24 years.
Strike-force of 22-year-old Neres, Tadic and Hakim Ziyech have proven effective this season. Veteran Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also hit form with a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Excelsior in the Dutch league at the weekend. But midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 21, is uncertain to start after going off clutching his hamstring.