Reigning champions Madrid to face young Ajax

In spite of all of their problems in recent years, Real Madrid always seem able to perform when it really matters: in the Champions League. 'Los Blancos' collected their record third consecutive crown in May, and while they may be struggling for form under new manager Santiago Solari, you would have to be a fool to rule them out of the running this season. 

No other club has won the European cup as many times as the Spanish giants, and although they may have lost talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in the summer, there is still a squad full of players with their own hauls of winners medals remaining at the Bernabeu. 

In contrast, the current Ajax side is full of young emerging stars, as is customary, thanks to the  conveyor belt of talent that is their famous youth academy. The key for the Dutch side is to hold onto these stars if they are to have any hope of beating the reigning champions.

Defender Matthjias de Ligt and midfielder Frenkie de Jong have long since been linked with departures from Amsterdam, but should the club want to continue to progress in Europe's top club competition, they will need to keep their best players until next summer at the very earliest. The looming January transfer window is a much of a danger to Ajax, as opponens Real Madrid pose at this current moment.

Regarding head to head records in this particular fixture, it is the Spanish side that hold a considerable advantage. In 12 matches, madrid have won seven, drawn one and lost four against Ajax.  The most recent encounter between the clubs was back in the group stages of the Champions League in 2012-13; Madrid won 4-1 in Amsterdam, and repeated that scoreline once more at the Santiago Bernabeu on match day six. 

One thing that this tie does promise is goals. Across the twelve matches the teams ahve contested, Madrid have scored 24 goals, while Ajax have notched 10 goals. 

All in all, champions Madrid should be able to progress through to the quarter finals, especially given the fact that the return tie is to be held in the Spanish capital. Nevertheless, it should be an intriguing tie, with plenty of attacking flair on show from both sides...