Tuesday night, the Dutch have dropped the Italians in Turin (1-2) and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, a first since 1997.
They redid Santiago Bernabeu! After eliminating the great Real Madrid in the 8th finals, Ajax gave a football lesson to Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo (2-1, 1-1 in the first leg) and qualified Tuesday, April 16 2019 for the semi-finals of the Champions League.
[EXCLU VIDÉO]
Une nouvelle fois phénoménal, l’Ajax sort la Juventus et Ronaldo après le RealDécouvrez le résumé vidéo du match ➡ https://t.co/l6H73bGlbZ pic.twitter.com/XsoQEwiVNF
— RMC Sport Ligue des Champions (@RMCSportLDC) April 16, 2019
It is a crazy feat, resounding, that managed the young Dutch team. After Real, triple title holder, it is the team of Ronaldo, the five-time winner, the gentleman Champions League, that Frenkie De Jong and his band have left to the mat.
On Monday, coach Erik Ten Hag spoke of “children playing like adults”. Yes, his players are carefree as children, confident and tough as mature men. They are champions.
A first since 2010 for Ronaldo
In 15 days, they will play against Tottenham or Manchester City the first semi-final of the Champions League of their club since 1997. Their captain Matthijs De Ligt did not see it, he was not born.
Ronaldo will watch it on television and it’s almost a first since he was never eliminated in the quarter-finals and had always reached the last four in the last 12 seasons, except in 2009-2010.
His incredible triumph of the previous round against Atlético de Madrid was not enough and his mere presence did not allow Juve to achieve his dream of coronation.
126 goals
The Turin club will not spare any thoughts, because the Portuguese did not always seemed very well supported during this European campaign finally average.
Tuesday again, it was he who opened the scoring for the Bianconeri, taking a Pjanic corner with a header, taking advantage of both his call for sharp ball that the clumsiness of Ajax defenders, who pushed themselves each other and fell into the surface.
Unleashed, CR7 then began to harangue the crowd, suddenly full of confidence after the 126th (!) Goal of the idol in the Champions League.
Terrible children
But the Portuguese can not do everything either, for example deal with the defensive alignment of his teammates. On a shot without much danger, De Sciglio roughly covered Van de Beek, who recovered and equalized (1-1, 34th).
Afterwards, the sequel belonged entirely to Ajax and to blond nephews of Johann Cruyjff, De Jong freeing himself from the marking to direct the maneuver whereas behind, De Ligt and his 19 years extinguished all danger.
After leaving Bernabeu with fire, the terrible children of Ajax played in Turin a wonderful second period, leaving the Italian public in perpetual anxiety at the incredible ease with which they find themselves as soon as they arrive in the opposing 30 meters.
The Turin goalkeeper Szczesny then delayed by several miracles what everyone saw happen. He blocked the attempts of Ziyech (52) and Van de Beek (58), before Pjanic saves Juventus in turn against (63).
Refreshing
But in the 67th minute, De Ligt jumped higher than Rugani and Alex Sandro on a corner and gave the advantage to his team (2-1). Juventus then pushed, but was not particularly dangerous, just weaker than the team opposite.
For the Italian club, this elimination is not a disaster and it should not open a crisis. But it’s a failure, no doubt, because we’re not going to get Ronaldo to stop in quarters.
Finally, Juventus stumbles at the same stage as last season. But a year ago, he had just had the five-fold Golden Ball to stop him.
This time, it’s this incredible Ajax. On Monday, Ten Hag wanted to “go beyond another limit”. It’s done and Ajax has changed status. The exhilarating and refreshing team became the terror of the plateau and a title candidate.
