Ajax v Juventus - as it happened
Join our live coverage of this evening's Champions League quarter-final first leg between Ajax and Juventus, from the Johan Cruyff Arena!
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
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93'FT: Ajax 1-1 Juventus! Well that's all folks. Despite the second-half grinding to a halt in the final 10 minutes in terms of fabulous football, the majority of this game had us glued to our screens as we watched Ajax come up with the perfect response to Juve's opener. For the most part, the Dutch side were in total control and will take the away goal advantage to Turin next week!
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92'Sami Khedira comes on for Bernardeschi as Tadic takes a shot on goal which was more hopeful than promising.
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91'This game is slowly fizzling out with no clear chances for either team in the last five or so minutes.
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90'Three minute of added time indicated! Ronaldo is nowhere to be seen, as hasn't been since his goal to be perfectly honest.
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89'Juventus taking their opportunities with Cancelo, who delivers a cross which Onana gathers safely. Could it have been a hopeful shot on goal... who knows?
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88'Last chance saloon for someone to take the lead in Amsterdam as we enter the final few minutes!
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85'CHANCE JUVE!!! Douglas Costa has a go and it's not far, clipping the post to go behind for a goal kick. Veltman and Ziyech totally switched off there.
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84'Pjanic is booked as he pulls Neres back. He definitely knew what he was doing there.
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83'The youngster, Ekkelenkamp has a go but it's straight down Szczesny's throat! Huge occasion for the 19 year old, perhaps nerves got the better of him there.
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80'The occasion and excitement perhaps starting to take their toll as the tempo drops slightly. Ajax are still in firm control however.
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77'Less than 15 minutes of regulation time to go for the teams to take the lead in this first leg!
Substitution
at Juventus
Substitution
at Ajax
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75'Ajax also make a substitution, bringing Ekkelenkamp, aged just 19, on for Schone.
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74'Dybala has replaced an injured Matuidi. It doesn't look too serious though.
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73'Dybala strips off and looks to be introduced as Matuidi goes down injured.
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70'De Ligt puts a crunching challenge on Ronaldo and wins it. The crowd absolutely loving it.
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67'Juventus have a rare chance for an attack but it's stopped before it can get into full swing.
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63'Apart from Juve's moment of magic, Ajax have 100% been the better team this evening so far. Perhaps Erik ten Hag was right, his side could be the underdogs of this year's Champions League...
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62'Bentancur lofts one into the box for Juve but Blind is there to clear, under no pressure from any Juve forwards.
Substitution
at Juventus
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60'Substitution Juventus - Mandzukic comes off to be replaced by Douglas Costa. Being honest, I completely forgot the Croatian was on the field...
Yellow card
a Ajax
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55'De Jong loses possession and opts to bring down Cancelo instead of working to get the ball back. The Barça bound midfielder unsurprisingly sees yellow.
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52'Juventus free kick ... the ball comes in and Bentancur goes down. The referee double checks that no foul has been committed and we move on. The contact was minimal, if any.
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51'Neres is back up front for Ajax as he slides it past Szczesny but he's miles offside. It's déja vu at the Johan Cruyff Arena as Ajax settle right back into their first-half rhythm!
Goaaaaaal!
de Ajax en el 46'
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Statistics of David Neres in Champions League1120.18300
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46'GOAAAAAAAAALLLLL AJAX! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT! That's exactly how you do it! Within seconds of the restart, Neres cancels out Juventus' lead! An unbelievable demonstration of resilience and grit! Juve barely had time to get back onto the pitch before Ajax put themselves right back in it!!!
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46'We're back for the second half!
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45'HT: Ajax 0-1 Juventus! And with that, we have the break for half-time! Juve picked the right moment to strike, seconds before the break, which will dent Ajax's confidence after they had worked so hard to create chance after chance. A real test of resilience for Ajax who need to stay strong. Erik ten Hag needs to use the break wisely! Stay tuned for the second half!
Goaaaaaal!
de Juventus en el 45'
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Statistics of C. Ronaldo in Champions League960.67211
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45'GOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL JUVENTUS!!! Who should score it but the Champions League king himself, Cristiano Ronaldo! You have to feel sorry for Ajax a little bit who have definitely been the better team this half but Juve exact a perfect counter before Ronaldo races upfield to smash the cross home with a powerful header! Just before half time, the perfect time to do it!
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43'Tagliafico was booked in amongst all of that chaos, meaning he will miss the second leg. Naughty boy!
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42'Schone goes for it but it's always rising and Juve can settle with a goal kick.
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41'Carnage on the pitch as players are sliding in on each other left, right and centre! Ajax somehow come out of it with a free kick in a dangerous position in the end!
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37'CHANCE JUVE! Bernardeschi feels he should have had a corner after his shot took the slightest deflection off De Ligt! The referee doesn't see it that way and gives a goal kick. The Juve striker perhaps should have done better too.
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36'Tagliafico is the latest to come close to Ajax after sliding in on the cross. Not far away!
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35'Ziyech is the playmaker so far for Ajax. He's all over the place creating dangerous opportunities!
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31'Juventus are really struggling to settle into a rhythm so far in this game!
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28'Ajax have a corner but Mandzukic gets up for Juve to clear the danger.
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25'CHANCE AJAX! Van de Beek very nearly puts his side ahead in this clash as his left foot effort is a whisker away from the target! Not sure Szczesny would have got there! Ajax deserve a goal at this point to be honest!
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24'The referee blows his whistle as Schone and Bernardeschi collide. At first glance it's for a Juve free kick, but it's the Juve man who is penalised for diving.
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23'Possession has been shared fairly equally so far in this clash but it's definitely Ajax who seem to be making the most of theirs!
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21'Ajax are treating us to some delicious one-touch football in the box! It deserves some score board recognition if you ask me!
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18'CHANCE AJAX!!! Ziyech winds up for the shot which has Szczesny at full stretch! The Juve keeper gets a palm to it and sends it over the bar!
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17'The free kick sails over the box and Ajax pick it up before charging up field towards the Juventus box.
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16'Juventus have a free kick from the left sideline after Alex Sandro is brought down.
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15'De Ligt is down in the aftermath of that corner but it doesn't look to bad and he shakes it off to continue.
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15'Juve this time with a chance from the corner flag but Onana comes flying off his line to punch away!
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13'In other news, Barcelona have taken the lead in their clash with Manchester United! Suarez with the goal.
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13'Ajax reclaim possession and Ziyech will have a go! Szczesny is right behind it though.
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12'Juve not currently able to extend beyond their own half. Erik ten Hag wasn't lying when he said his team would be ready for the challenge.
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9'Ajax are favouring the left wing at the moment so Tagliafico attempts to switch it up but Juve are all over the cross field ball.
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8'Ajax doing well to keep hold of the ball. After all, the opposition can't score if you've got the ball!
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7'Cancelo is down after a collision with Van de Beek in the Juventus box.
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6'I take that back! Ziyech lets loose and has Szczesny flying! His shot can only find the side netting but it's a good sign!
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5'Ajax are yet to make a go at Juve's box, It's won't be easy to do, even without Chiellini at the back for the visitors!
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2'CHANCE JUVE!!! Bernardeschi has a go from a fair distance but it's not far away! Juve starting as they mean to go on!
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1'AND WE'RE OFF!!! Juventus get us underway as we prepare to enjoy 90 minutes of what is sure to be an action-packed match!
Start of match
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PRVWBernardeschi and Schone clash. The referee's whistle goes and at first it looks like it was for the Ajax man but the Spanish official penalises the Juve man for diving.
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PRVWCristiano Ronaldo with a stern, serious look on his face ahead of kick-off. He means business!
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PRVWThe players emerge from the tunnel to make their way onto the pitch in front of a packed out Johan Cruyff Arena!
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PRVWAs both teams take to the field for the warm up, we're approaching the 10 minutes to go mark!
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PRVWAjax take confidence into this match, having knocked out current reigning champions, Real Madrid with a 1-4 victory in the second leg (3-5 on agg). They face a resurgent Juventus who will still be on Cloud 9 from knocking Atletico out with a huge comeback.
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PRVWIn other, slightly less positive news, the police have reported some issues surrounding the stadium ahead of kick-off and arrests have been made.
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PRVWThe Dutch side have outdone themselves this year, reaching the last eight for the first time since 2003! Erik ten Hag is proud of his side who he considers the underdogs. "A couple of months ago, we found our form and returned to being a strong team."
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PRVWWhile Juventus are top of the table, and have been for eight successive years in the Serie A, they haven't won the Champions League trophy since 1996. Now with Ronaldo, could this year be the year?
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PRVWThe big news for Juventus - no Giorgio Chiellini. The defender has been suffering with a calf strain and was unable to return to match fitness ahead of tonight's clash. Cancelo takes his place. Other changes include Ronaldo, as well as Miralem Pjanic and Blaise Matuidi. Paulo Dybala drops to the bench alongside Moise Kean.
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PRVWJuventus starting XI: Szczesny; Joao Cancelo, Rugani, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Matuidi, Bentancur; Ronaldo, Mandzukic, Bernardeschi
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PRVWErik ten Hag makes just one change, introducing Veltman for Mazraoui who is ruled out through suspension.
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PRVWAjax starting XI: Onana; Veltman, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; De Jong, Van de Beek, Schone; Neres, Ziyech, Tadic
Pre-match
10 April 2019, 21:00
Referee: Del Cerro Grande | VAR: Hernández Hernández
Stadium: Johan Cruyff Arena
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PRVWWelcome to our live, minute-by-minute coverage of this evening's Champions League quarter-final clash between Ajax and Juventus! Stay tuned for team news and line-ups!