Both teams came into this match with the confidence of having eliminated huge title contenders. Ronaldo masterminded Juve's comeback against Atletico with a fabulous hat trick, while Ajax completed a shock victory away at the Wanda Metropolitano to knock Atletico Madrid out.
While Juventus are without a Champions League title since 1996, Wednesday night's clash was the first time Ajax had reached the last eight since 2003 so Erik ten Hag was confident of his team's chances as the underdog.
They would have Cristiano Ronaldo to contend with though, who has been labelled the King of the Champions League over recent years.
No matter, for an Ajax team who came out firing on all cylinders with Ziyech as their playmaker. Erik ten Hag's side treated us to some fabulous one-touch football as Juve struggled to get out of their own half at the very start.
It didn't take too long for that to change and Bernardeschi popped up all over the place to try and threaten Onana's goal. Ajax performed well all over the pitch as their defence kept Juve at bay for the majority of the first half.
The home side were in complete control and Juventus became frustrated at their inability to exert pressure and authority in the final third.
Possession was shared fairly equally but it was Ajax who seem to be making the most of theirs with Ziyech and Van de Beek. Ronaldo was surprisingly quiet...
Despite Ajax being allowed to create chances left, right and centre, Juventus took the opportunity, seconds before the break, to prove exactly why you can never discount them from a contest.
The Italian side launched a counter attack from their own box initially down the left but it was switched, via Ronaldo, to the right with Cancelo. Ronaldo's work was far from done there, as he charged goalwards to get on the end of Cancelo's pin point perfect cross with a header that Onana could do absolutely nothing about.
Erik ten Hag would have been happy with his team's first-half performance overall, but Ajax went into the break a goal behind. Both the best and worst times to go behind in a game, as it serves as an opportunity to discuss the game plan in order to remain resilient and dominant. However, Ajax would need to work hard, mentally, not to let Ronaldo's goal take the wind out of their sails.
Some fans might still have been enjoying their half time pint, but David Neres had other plans and took matters into his own hands, just seconds after the restart. In a perfect demonstration of resilience and grit, Ajax had pulled themselves right back into the match and settled back into their first-half form.
Ajax resumed their dominant performance as if Juventus had never scored. Of course, we have to appreciate that Juve had their moment of magic thanks to their star man Ronaldo, but Ajax were without doubt the better team during the first-leg clash. Erik ten Hag was right, perhaps his side are beginning to put Dutch football back on the map.
In comparison to the first-half's excitement and action, the second-half paled into insignificance somewhat, with just a handful of chances from both sides that might have threatened to take the lead. Edging towards the 80 minute mark, Ronaldo was expected to kick into gear but the likes of Blind and De Ligt dealt with him well and he was silenced.
Another Juventus representative who was silent was Mario Mandzukic who was substituted having made no significant impact, by Douglas Costa, claiming perhaps the closest chance of the half for both sides. He drove the ball low and with pace which, if on target, might have beaten Onana. However, the post came to Ajax's rescue instead and the remainder of the half fizzled out, uneventful.
Ajax will hope to take their confidence and dominance from the first-leg with them to Italy next week where they will have the away goal advantage. Juventus and Massimiliano Allegri will wonder what they could have done differently, having put out an underwhelming performance, by their standards.
Tuesday 16th April is the day. Allianz Stadium is the location. 9pm is the time. Be sure to tune into our live coverage as we anticipate a nail-biting second-leg to this Champions League quarter-final clash.