The group is manageable but the other sides I am sure are happy they drew us rather than some Of the other pot 1 sides. We can realistically qualify in second but there are no guarentees. Ajax reached the semis only a couple of seasons ago. Besiktas is also difficult. however, I would bet sporting to come second . Portuguese sides tend to get the better of Dutch and Turkish sides and after all we are the Portuguese champions and have started the season well. There is No reason to not be optimistic !
We know today the schedule of the matches: 15/09 Sporting-Ajax, 20h00 28/09 Bor. Dortmund-Sporting, 20h00 19/10 Besiktas-Sporting, 17h45 03/11 Sporting-Besiktas, 20h00 24/11 Sporting-Bor. Dortmund, 20h00 7/12 Ajax-Sporting
Official Champions League squad registration - some names like TT and Inacio aren't here but they can still be used since they're U21 from our academy, they don't need to be registered. GK: Antonio Adán, André Paulo, João Virginia Defenders: Matheus Reis, Zouhair Feddal, Sebastián Coates, Luís Neto, Rúben Vinagre, Pedro Porro, Ricardo Esgaio, José Marsà, Gonçalo Esteves Midfielders: João Palhinha, Tabata, Matheus Nunes, Manuel Ugarte, Pote, Daniel Bragança Forwards: Jovane Cabral, Nuno Santos, Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho, Geny Catamo
So, Ajax have not played Sporting in a Euro competition since the old UEFA Cup back in 1988-89. Sporting got the better of Ajax winning both games and knocking Ajax out in the first round. Sporting exited in the 2nd round losing to Real Sociedad. I'm looking forward to an entertaining match between these two champions of their respective leagues. Here is a quick scouting report on Ajax: GK - Maarten Stekelenburg may be the oldest player in the competition with his 39th birthday coming up in two weeks. He was forced into the #1 job when Onana was suspended for doping last November for a year. Onana probably won't play for Ajax once his ban expires in two months as he refuses to extend his contract. Stekelenburg is OK but clearly not as quick as he once was. He did play for the Dutch NT in the Euros this past summer. LB - Nicolas Tagliafico lost his position on the Argentina NT this year and did not find any takers this past transfer season. He is still fast, has a good cross and can often pop up in the box on free kicks and score. He's not a great defender and is sometimes reckless with challenges. It could be that Daley Blind starts at LB. He played there for the Dutch NT last week. He is a very good passer and reads the game well. Unfortunately, he is very slow and can be beaten by quicker wingers. LCB - Lisandro Martinez is also on the Argentina NT and a bit undersized for a center back. He is a very good postiional player and does not get pushed around RCB - Justin Timber came up through the Ajax academy and took over the center back position last year. He is outstanding on the ball and often times will take the ball deep into the offensive half if the space is open. RB - Nous Mazraoui is a veteran of the Ajax team that went to the semifinals of the CL back in 2019 but is still only 24. He is an able defender and excellent passer. DM - Edson Alvarez is the holding MF and a starter for Mexico. His ball handling skills were the weakest part of his game when he came to Ajax just about two years ago. He's improved a lot and defensively is very good. MF - Ryan Gravenberch is only 19 and this is his second year as a starter. He has deceptive speed and a very hard shot from distance. MR - Davy Klaassen is the attacking MF and had some very good games with the Dutch NT last week. He returned with a bit of a groin problem and is being held out of the weekend match as a precaution. He is not a very good ball handler but he finds ways to get open in the box and his shot is very accurate. LW - Dusan Tadic is the captain of the team and has played as a false #9 in past seasons. He takes all the penalties for the team and is a very fine passer of the ball. Striker - Sebastien Haller came over from West Ham last season. He is tall and strong and a good hold up player. He works hard but has been an inconsistent scorer. RW - Antony was a starter for the gold medal Brazil Olympic team this past summer. He has a good left foot shot and likes to cut into the middle from the wing. Tactically, Ajax play the traditional Dutch 4-3-3 though they sometimes will go with a three man back line pushing one of the FBs up into the MF Both FBs like to go foward and they can cut inside as well as overlapping the winger on the outside which makes things unpredictable. Ajax likes to have a lot of possession and are content to pass the ball until a favorable attacking lane opens up. Defensively they are sound. The biggest risk is losing the ball in the MF with too many players pushed up which creates an ideal counter attacking situation. Despite the smallish CBs, Ajax do a very good job defending free kicks. Ajax are capable of scoring against any opponent and teams that play too defensively against them usually get broken down. Hope this is of interest.
So back in the CL and hopeful that we can at least have a dignified performance and rack up a few more million in prize money. Pedro G. Is confirmed to not play. Inacio is a doubt but today there's been news that he might recover in time. Coates is suspended since he was sent off vs. LASK Linz last year. Matheus Nunes might be a doubt as towards the end of the derby he was in tears after a challenge with their GK. With that in mind we may see Ugarte finally get some minutes, and Neto once again start. Hopefully Inacio recovers, otherwise I'd rather play Esgaio at center back over Matheus Reis. My prediction: Adan Inacio, Neto, Feddal Porro, Palhinha, Matheus, Vinagre Jovane, Paulinho, Nuno Santos Sarabia/Ugarte/Esgaio could be options to come on or replace players who aren't fit. Not sure where Bragança stands - I thought he might come on yesterday but it seems clear Amorim doesn't 100% trust him yet.
I don't want to see Matheus Reis anywhere near the pitch. I don't understand Amorim's hard on for that guy.
Huge. We need them both, especially Inacio. I'd start TT at this point if he's good to go. Unfortunately Paulinho seems to be a massive bust.
I'll maintain what I've said before - off the ball he's improved our attack a lot, but yes I agree we need a threat in the box. In the first half he dropped really deep so much and dragged their defenders out of position (watch the build up to our goal). I'm pretty sure Amorim wants him to play like our 'Firmino' (just a comparison, not saying he's near that level) - Firmino doesn't score much but he works so hard and creates chances for Mane and Salah to score tons.
Agreed. Reminds me of Postiga a little bit as well. He does need to bury his chances though, there's been a few too many easy goals that he's missed.
Starting XI Adán; Feddal, Neto, Gonçalo Inácio; Porro, Palhinha, Matheus, Vinagre; Jovane, Nuno Santos, Paulinho
AJAX: Pasveer; Mazraoui, Timber, Martínez, Blind; Álvarez, Berghuis, Gravenberch; Anthony, Haller, Tadic.