Everything on... Ajax

Tonight, we will step foot into our first ever UEFA Champions League semi-final (8pm kick-off).

Ajax are the visitors to our new home – a side that won the new format of the competition for the first time back in 1995, as they defeated AC Milan 1-0 in Vienna - and won three consecutive European Cups between 1971 and 1973.

Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents...

Team news

After missing his side's last two outings, defender Noussair Mazraoui was Ajax’s only injury concern heading into this evening's clash, but manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the full-back will be back and available for selection.

One to watch

Young defender Matthijs de Ligt is the leading light of Ajax’s new generation of rising stars. Having graduated from the club’s prestigious academy in 2016, the centre-back made his debut at the age of just 17 and scored within 25 minutes of the game starting, heading in a corner in his side’s 5-0 KNVB Cup win over Willem II.

Later that season, he played a central role in helping Ajax to the final of the Europa League, playing alongside Davinson Sanchez in their defeat to Manchester United in May, 2017.

The following campaign, a series of commanding performances at the heart of defence saw coach Erik ten Hag offer the captain’s armband to De Ligt, a role the youngster is yet to relinquish.

After receiving the Golden Boy award in 2018, the 19-year-old has been almost ever-present for the Dutch side and with their hunt still on for all three major competitive honours, the Netherlands international could be set to lead his side to their first treble since 1973.

Previous meetings

29 September 1981 – Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Ajax – UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup, first round, second leg
16 September 1981 – Ajax 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup, first round, first leg

Last time we met

We sealed our progress to the second round of the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup with a 3-0 win over Ajax at White Hart Lane in September, 1981.

We had already secured a 3-1 lead in the first leg at De Meer, but we didn’t let up in the return fixture as we asserted our dominance in the tie.

A packed Lane watched on as, despite a goalless first period, in the space of 12 second-half minutes, Tony Galvin, Mark Falco and Ossie Ardiles all found the target to secure our place in the next round.

Ajax’s form

Tonight's visitors currently sit at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie on goal difference, just in front of one of our Champions League group stage opponents, PSV Eindhoven, who occupy second place.

It is thanks to a recent run of six back-to-back victories that Ajax have been able to claim top spot having endured a slow start to the campaign.

In their Champions League journey so far, the red and whites qualified for the knockout stages after finishing in the runners-up spot of a very tough Group E, which included former European Cup winners Bayern Munich and Benfica.

They progressed to earn a round of 16 tie against current holders Real Madrid and, against the odds, the Dutch side knocked out the 13-time winners with a 5-3 aggregate win before overturning Italian outfit Juventus 3-2 over two legs to seal their place in the last four of the competition.

Magic moment

Ricky Villa produced the quality in the first leg of our European Cup Winners’ Cup tie with Ajax in 1981.

It was our first outing in Europe for seven years, but it was as if we had never been away as Falco fired home an early a brace at De Meer to give us a commanding lead. We had weathered a storm from the home side in the opening exchanges of the game but our dominance in the tie was summed up by the quality of Villa’s solo effort on 67 minutes.

Released by compatriot Ardiles, the Argentine midfielder used his quick feet to slip through the defence and nip round the goalkeeper before he slotted the ball home to make it 3-0.

Soren Lerby pulled one back for the home side, but it would mean little in the second leg as we put another three past the Dutch outfit at the Lane to seal our progress to the next round.

Played for both

Popular midfielder and a self-confessed Spurs fan, Teemu Tainio arrived in north London in the summer of 2005 from Auxerre, and quickly settled himself into life in the Premier League. Possessing a good range of passing and the vision to pick out a team-mate, he was versatile enough to play in central midfield or out wide on the left and enjoyed his best season during 2006/07 when we finished fifth in the top flight and reached the last eight of the UEFA Cup.

He moved on to Sunderland in 2008 and then Birmingham City, before spending the 2010/11 season at Ajax where he collected an Eredivisie winners’ medal.

Teemu later had a spell with New York Red Bulls before finishing his career with HJK Helsinki. The Finnish international has since returned to north London, most recently on 30 March this year, as he played in the final Test Event match at our new stadium, scoring the first goal in an eventual 5-4 defeat for our Legends at the hands of Inter Forever.

What they’re saying

Speaking to members of the media in his press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ajax boss Erik ten Hag said that he hopes his team will continue to impress in Europe tonight, admitting that he is not yet satisfied with their progress.

“Our aim is to continue this way. It’s fantastic that we’re in the semi-finals – nobody expected a Dutch team to achieve that – but we want more,” he explained. “That’s this team’s motto. We’re not satisfied. That leads to laziness.

“In the past few games, we’ve proven to be super-fit and hungry.” But, he admitted: “The truth will always be told on the field.

“We’re fit and can give our best performance. We know that. If we can play our game at our level, I think we have a good shot.”