Champions League

Ajax missing stars Onana, Tadic, Klaassen and Gravenberch for Midtjylland clash

Ajax's Champions League hopes have been struck by a succession of call offs ahead of a key clash with Midtjylland on Tuesday.

 
4:49pm on Monday 2nd November 2020
By
Robin Bairner

Ajax’s squad has been decimated by ahead of Tuesday’s vital Champions League trip to Midtjylland as four key players miss out.

The Amsterdam club have named a 17-man travelling party for the match in Denmark, but star players Andre Onana, Dusan Tadic, Davy Klaassen and Ryan Gravenberch are conspicuous by their absence.

The quartet are important starters, with Tadic outstanding during the club's run to the final less than 18 months ago and Gravenberch having emerged as one of Europe's rising stars in the heart of the midfield.

Reports in De Telegraaf state that there has been a significant outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad, leaving 20-year-old Kjell Scherpen, who has not played a first-team game for the 2019 finalists, the only goalkeeper to travel.

Nevertheless, eight of the starting players who were in the team that defeated Fortuna Sittard 5-2 on Saturday are present, while of the substitutes that day only Maarten Stekelenburg and Promes drop out for this clash.

The double header against the Danish champions promises to be pivotal in their qualification hopes.

Ajax suffered a 1-0 home loss to Liverpool in the opening round of fixtures then failed to hold onto a 2-0 lead in Atalanta, ultimately drawing the match 2-2.

Consequently, they are left on a single point after two games, with successive matches against the side fancied as the pool whipping boys to follow.

Midtjylland suffered a 4-0 rout at home to the Serie A side in matchday one, and though they improved in a 2-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield last week, they remain dramatic outsiders to progress.

However, Brian Priske’s side, who are in their debut Champions League campaign, stand a far stronger chance of defeating a depleted Ajax team, which is exactly what Erik ten Hag will be travelling with.

Ten Hag will address the press on Monday evening, when he will likely offer an update on the status of the vast number of players he will be without.

Ajax squad to face Midtjylland:

Kjell Scherpen; Perr Schuurs, Noussair Mazraoui, Daley Blind, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Sean Klaiber, Jurrien Timber; Edson Alvarez, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp; David Neres, Antony, Quincy Promes, Lassina Traore, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Brian Brobbey, Victor Jensen

Latest news

Serie A

Capello carries Juve back to the summit of Italian football - Serie A 2004-05

The Bianconeri would later be stripped of this Serie A title...

  • 11 hours
Ligue 1

Montpellier stun French football to claim maiden title - Ligue 1 in 2011/12

Olivier Giroud and co. put themselves on the map by winning the French top flight for the very first time

  • 12 hours
Bundesliga

When Magath guided Bayern to another Bundesliga crown - the Bundesliga in 2005/06

The Bavarian giants claimed the double in Germany, further solidifying their dominance under Felix Magath

  • 13 hours
La Liga

When Ronaldinho moved onto another level - La Liga in 2005/06

The Brazilian moved into the realm of greatness in a near-flawless season

  • 14 hours
Premier League

When Ronaldinho sent Barcelona on their journey to greatness - La Liga in 2004/05

The arrival of the Brazilian the previous year was the catalyst for a return to the top at Camp Nou

  • 15 hours
Premier League

When Man Utd blew Arsenal away to win three in a row - the Premier League in 2000/01

The Red Devils hammered their nearest rivals 6-1 during a season where everyone else trailed in their wake

  • 16 hours

Most read