If Ajax are to win a treble, they must get past Tottenham Hotspur
first in the Champions League semifinal. The Dutch club defeated
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in London a week ago and will feel confident they can
finish off the job at home on Wednesday.
Tottenham
Hotspur have been universally praised for their play and results this season.
But they are out of form and have been since striker Harry Kane went down with
a season-ending ankle injury.
Spurs
have lost five of their last six games in all competitions. Mauricio Pochettino’s
players look incredibly tired as his thin squad is unable to cope with the stresses
of the Premier League and Champions League at the moment.
Tottenham lost at the weekend
1-0 to Bournemouth. Spurs did benefit from both Arsenal and Manchester United
dropping points, which has allowed them to remain fourth.
Centre-back Jan
Vertonghen is a major doubt for Spurs. He suffered a head injury in the first
leg and looked to have passed out when attempting to go back onto the pitch.
His absence will be a major loss for the side.
Harry Winks, Erik Lamela, and Serge Aurier are also listed as
doubts, and will join Kane in the stands to watch the game at the Johan Cruyff
Arena.
Ten Hag doesn’t
have the same injury worries as Pochettino. He should be able to call upon the
same players for Wednesday night when the teams play the second leg in
Amsterdam.
AFC Ajax’s progression in the
Champions League should be commended. They progressed through the qualifying
rounds just to reach the group stage. Ajax have been an underdog throughout the
tournament, but on Wednesday night, they will be the favourite.
The second leg
should be a higher scoring affair than the first leg in London. Tottenham
Hotspur must go out and score to have any hope of progression to the final.
Spurs’ attack will leave them open at the back
and Ajax should be able to pass their way through to goal. The
second leg will see both sides score with Ajax coming out on top. The game
should feature over 2.5 goals as Ajax advance to the final in Madrid
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