Youth battles experience as Ajax take on Real Madrid

Two European heavyweights go head-to-head in a thrilling contrast of styles and experience as Ajax take on Real Madrid in the round of 16.

Ajax and Real Madrid are two teams that have such rich histories, and yet in many ways could not be more dissimilar.

Ajax, the team that revolutionized the sport in the ’70s, winning multiple European Cups, have been left behind in the modern day. Yes, they’re still immensely successful domestically, but the relatively low levels of money in the Dutch league has helped numerous other European clubs overtake Ajax. They’ve had to adapt their model by investing big in youth and selling players on for profit.

This Ajax team are very much made in that mould. It’s important to recognize the significance of Ajax making it to the knockouts in the first place. Absent from the Champions League for more than four years, it’s been much longer since Ajax made it past the group stages. Coming through a tough group that included the likes of Benfica and Bayern Munich, this team performed with maturity and bravery to finish second. The euphoria surrounding qualification to the knockouts is justified, and to many Ajax are back where they belong — among the elite.

In Dusan Tadic, Daley Blind and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Ajax do have experience, but nowhere close to that of the team they face.

In Real Madrid, Ajax are coming up against a team that could not be more different than they are. Real are riddled with established stars, most of whom have won it all — World Cups, Champions League, league titles, you name it. Players who have established themselves at the top level for so long it’s hard to keep track of the number of medals they’ve collected over the years.

This is a Real Madrid side that deal with crises on a seemingly daily basis, but through experience and sheer will pull themselves back on course just in time. Madrid have won the Champions League three years in a row now, despite being miles behind Barcelona domestically. The Champions League is Real Madrid’s competition. It’s a different beast, and there’s always an air of expectancy and familiarity when Real make it to the knockout rounds.

Under Santiago Solari, Real have been hauled back on course on all three fronts. Solari has been brave this season, benching the likes of Marcelo, Isco, Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale in preference for the kids from Castilla. It’s paid off already in the league, with Real now just six points behind Barcelona. Their performances have skyrocketed, and the balance Solari has found of enthusiasm and skill is almost perfect. In the Champions League, you would expect Real move back to their favored personnel: Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and a host of others who have seen it all before.

Ajax’s form recently has been in stark contrast. They’ve done brilliantly already, keeping within touching distance of PSV Eindhoven, who are having a spectacular season domestically, but in recent weeks inconsistencies have begun popping up. They’ve drawn and lost games they were expected to win, and key players are performing below par. Their defense has been porous in recent weeks. That will need to be fixed before they come up against Karim Benzema and co.

Frenkie de Jong, after confirming his move to Barcelona in January, will be eager to make an impact against historic rivals Real, but he’ll need his team to level up their game with him. Another highly rated youngster, Mathijs de Ligt — linked with moves to Real and Juve, among many more — will also be keen to impress. Ajax have already shown what they can do this season up against a heavyweight, when they went toe-to-toe with Bayern and came out with few scars and points in the bag. If that’s the Ajax that show up, Real Madrid won’t have it their own way.

It’s a thrilling clash that harkens back to the old days of the European Cup, and despite being the heavy underdogs, Ajax will be keen on making an impact. This is one of the most open Champions League seasons in a long time. The winner here would really be staking their claim to be taken seriously.