Champions League Group G preview: Ajax, Auxerre in missions impossible

With Real Madrid and AC Milan already into the knockout stages, Ajax and Auxerre will fight for a Europa League berth on Wednesday.

Ajax travel to the San Siro to do battle with Milan, while Auxerre visit Madrid to take on Jose Mourinho’s side.

Real Madrid will finish on top in Champions League Group G with 13 points, five clear of Milan.

But the real intrigue in Wednesday’s matches is who will take out third spot and a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Ajax are third with four points, with Auxerre just one behind on three – meaning a win for the Dutch side in Milan would see them through automatically.

They will have to do it with a new coach at the helm, with former Dutch international Frank De Boer handed the reins in a caretaker capacity on Monday after Martin Jol resigned in the wake of some poor domestic form.

Should Ajax lose and Auxerre draw – meaning both sides would finish on four points – Auxerre would progress because they have the superior goal difference.

Despite the fact they are one point ahead, Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg said his side would be giving their all against Milan – the Serie A league leaders.

“When you draw Real Madrid, Milan and Auxerre, you know it will be very difficult,” Stekelenburg told UEFA.com.

“Of course you focus mostly on third place, for the Europa League, and you hope for what everybody thinks would be an upset.”

“The second round of the Champions League won’t be possible (now) but the Europa League is the highest thing we can achieve at the moment, so we’ll go for that.”

“I don’t expect Auxerre to win in Madrid, but you never know, so actually we need to try to get a good result against Milan.”