It's always AZ Alkmaar, isn't it? Seems like almost every game against them is a memorable one. Ajax won a gritty 3-2 game in Alkmaar last season. AZ took revenge by winning 3-0 in Amsterdam in Dutch Cup semis which they followed up by beating PSV in finals. Ajax beat them 3-2 in Dutch Super Cup this season. Then AZ took revenge by beating Ajax 3-2 in Alkmaar in the first league game. But they don't have Verbeek anymore. Around Christmas, AZ were in terrible form losing 6 games in a row but under Dick Advocaat they picked up their performances. They won 5 of their last 8 before visiting Amsterdam on 23rd Feb.
Ajax were coming off what was arguably De Boer's worst loss as Ajax's manager [not the scoreline but the performance]. Red Bull Salzburg won all 6 of their Europa League group games and there's also the small matter of beating Pep's Bayern München 3-0 in a winter friendly last month. And they showed why they should be taken seriously in this year's competition. They pressed Ajax relentlessly, broke all the attacks before they even started and took 3-0 lead after 35 mins, the 3rd one a glorious goal from near halfway line by Soriano. Yet another year, Ajax are doomed in EL. After such a performance, the side needed to bounce back and they did in a glorious style.
With Serero and Boilesen injured, the usual midfield of Klaassen-Blind-Serero, which never got beaten in Eredivisie so far was replaced with Klaassen-Poulsen-Duarte. Ajax were brilliant in the first half and could have scored 8 if not for AZ's keeper Boer and some tame finishing. Once again, Bojan was good without scoring goal. Siem de Jong opened the scoring and Ajax were never troubled.
And like many of Kafka's stories, this ends here abruptly.
Ajax were coming off what was arguably De Boer's worst loss as Ajax's manager [not the scoreline but the performance]. Red Bull Salzburg won all 6 of their Europa League group games and there's also the small matter of beating Pep's Bayern München 3-0 in a winter friendly last month. And they showed why they should be taken seriously in this year's competition. They pressed Ajax relentlessly, broke all the attacks before they even started and took 3-0 lead after 35 mins, the 3rd one a glorious goal from near halfway line by Soriano. Yet another year, Ajax are doomed in EL. After such a performance, the side needed to bounce back and they did in a glorious style.
With Serero and Boilesen injured, the usual midfield of Klaassen-Blind-Serero, which never got beaten in Eredivisie so far was replaced with Klaassen-Poulsen-Duarte. Ajax were brilliant in the first half and could have scored 8 if not for AZ's keeper Boer and some tame finishing. Once again, Bojan was good without scoring goal. Siem de Jong opened the scoring and Ajax were never troubled.
And like many of Kafka's stories, this ends here abruptly.
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