27 September 2021, 10:21 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group C fixture, AFC Ajax vs. Beşiktaş JK, kicks off at 17:45 (GMT+1) on Matchday 2, Tuesday, September 28 at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Referee Benoît Bastien (FRA) will be in charge while Hicham Zakrani (FRA) and Aurélien Berthomieu (FRA) will be assisting. Delajod Willy (FRA) will be the Video Assistant Referee.
Preview Ajax Champions League, Sep 28, 2021
Preview AFC Ajax defeated Sporting CP 5-1 on UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 at the José Alvalade Stadium. Sebastien Haller was the best player on the pitch after bagging an extraordinary haul of four goals (2', 9', 51' & 63') in just over an hour. Steven Berghuis (39') was also on the scoresheet for Ajax while Paulinho (33') got the consoling goal for the hosts. Haller's total saw him become the first player to bag four goals on his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League since Marco van Basten achieved the same feat for AC Milan in 1992. The win sits Ajax on top of the Group C table with 3 points and a G.D. of +4 after Matchday 1: 1W, 0D, & 0L. Manager Erik ten Hag, who recently debunked rumors linking him to Barcelona, was extremely pleased with the lads for the big win. The 51-year-old will try to cement Ajax's position at the top of the standings with another victory on Tuesday. However, Erik ten Hag's side have picked up five defeats in their last nine European matches on home soil (W4, 0D & 5L). The trio, consisting of Tadic, Haller, and Antony, could return in attack when Erik ten Hag lines up the 4—2—3—1 formation or its close variant, the 4—3—3. Sean Klaiber and Maarten Stekelenburg remain doubtful for this fixture. Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana could be back in action for Ajax in November after having his doping ban shortened from a year to nine months. Ajax will welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Johan Cruyff Arena on UEFA Champions League Matchday 3, Oct. 19.
Preview Beşiktaş Champions League, Sep 28, 2021
Preview Beşiktaş picked up a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the Vodafone Arena on UCL Matchday 1. Jude Bellingham (20') got the first goal of the game and became the youngest player to score in back-to-back UCL appearances. The Englishman went on to provide a fine assist for Erling Haaland (45+3') in Dortmund's second. Francisco Montero (90+4') got Beşiktaş' only goal. The loss leaves the Black Eagles in 3rd place in Group C, while having no points but a G.D. of -1 at the end of Matchday 1. Sergen Yalçın's probable 4--1--4--1 formation could see Michy Batshuayi leading the attack against Ajax. Beşiktaş have only two victories in their last eight fixtures against Dutch clubs. The numbers came when they faced Feyenoord in the 2014/15 edition of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round (2-1 A, 3-1 H). Looking ahead, Beşiktaş will host Sporting CP on UCL Matchday 3 at the Vodafone Arena.