Champions League Group G preview: Heavyweights face off

Two of European football’s most successful sides will clash as Real Madrid and Ajax meet in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

As Group G action continues in the Champions League, Real know an away win will confirm their spot in the Round of 16.

But their opponents are aware that gaining points in the fixture is vital, with second-placed Milan travelling to Auxerre in the group’s other match.

Real and Ajax have won 13 Champions League titles between them – nine going to the Spanish side – which leaves only Bayern Munich and Milan better placed in the competition’s history.

The Spanish giants’ boss Jose Mourinho wants an improved effort from his side’s last European performance, where an injury-time goal from Pedro Leon gained Real a late point at the San Siro in Matchday 4.

“I think my team needs to learn, they need to learn how to play in the Champions League,” Mourinho told FIFA.com.

“The important thing is to learn to play at this level. If we had played as we should have done in the second half, we could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up but instead we could have lost. So it was a great experience in terms of helping us to learn.”

“It was an important moment for Pedro but more so for the team because we’ve not lost, we’ve already qualified for the second round and we need just one point to win the group.”

Mourinho will hope that point comes at the Amsterdam Arena and will take heart from his side’s 2-0 win over Ajax in Madrid earlier in the group stage.

A Vurnon Anita own goal and a second-half strike from Gonzalo Higuain kicked off Real’s European campaign in style and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak, which stands at 18 matches in all competitions.

They face an Ajax side that has not won in its last three league matches and as a result dropped to third in the Eredivisie.

Star striker Luis Suarez has struggled for form lately and was a doubt to play after television replays appeared to show him biting PSV’s Otman Bakkal on Saturday.

Ajax had been under pressure to ban Suarez but club instead chose to suspend him for two league games, with the importance of the match perhaps coming into their decision – something midfielder Demy de Zeeuw is well aware of.

“We cannot afford to lose against Real if we want to maintain our prospects and name in Europe,” de Zeeuw said.

The misfiring attacking combination of Suarez, Mido and Mounir El Hamdaoui will need to spark if they are to produce an upset, though they will face a Real side missing the likes of Higuain, Sami Khedira. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play despite a sore ankle.

In the group’s other matches, AC Milan travel to the Stade l’Abbe-Deschamps to face Auxerre.

Milan know a win in France would keep them second with just one group match left and are under no illusions of the importance of the match.

“We’re facing an in-form Auxerre,” Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri said.

“That game and the one against Ajax will be decisive. They’ll determine our fate in the Champions League.”

Midfielder Andrea Pirlo will be recalled into the starting line-up after being rested against Fiorentina while Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi are absent through injury.

Without two important strikers, more onus will fall on the shoulders of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho, while Ronaldinho is expected to start on the bench after reportedly being spotted in Milan at 2am on Friday morning.

Auxerre welcome back right-back Cedric Hengbart and striker Dennis Oliech into their side and are hopeful of an upset victory, according to manager Jean Fernandez.

“In one match, anything is possible at Stade l’Abbe-Deschamps,” Fernandez said.

“We showed that against Ajax (2-1 victory). We almost succeeded against Real (0-1 defeat). So why not Milan? That’s our state of mind.”

Real begin Matchday 5 with 10 points from four matches – five ahead of Milan, who lead Ajax and Auxerre by one and two points respectively.