TheSportsCampus

Group G, the proverbial 'Group of Death', promises a mouth watering clash every single week, and provides the highlight of Matchday 1 as Real Madrid take on Ajax Amsterdam at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid notched their first La Liga victory under Jose Mourinho on Saturday against Osasuna while Ajax continued their great start to the season with a 2-0 win over Willem II. The clubs have 13 European Cups between them but have fallen upon austere times in recent years in Europe. Madrid have been knocked out in the 2nd round for six consecutive seasons while Ajax are appearing in the competition for the first time in five years. With both teams trying to recapture old glory this promises to be a very close encounter.

(Click here for the Match Report)

Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho was brought in by Florentino Perez to recapture Madrid's glory days. The club have been in Barcelona's shadow for the last few years, despite spending quite a lot of money on new players. Mourinho is fresh off his record breaking treble season with Inter Milan, but Madrid is a completely different challenge for the self titled "Special One". But he's well equipped to handle the immense pressure and more importantly has the amazing ability to get the best out of his players.

Defence has always been at the heart of Madrid's failings. From the time they offloaded Claude Makelele in the summer of 2003, they have had a torrid time. There is more to defending than just four players protecting their goal. The entire team has to work hard to retrieve the ball when they lose possession and track back to provide the defenders cover. Mourinho will change the ethos at the club by instilling a work ethic that heretofore is alien to the Galacticos at Madrid.

The signing of Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea has strengthened the defence and he will be expected to develop a partnership in central defence alongside his countryman, Pepe. Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are very good at bombing down the wings but get caught out of position quite a few times. Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira provide much needed verve and vigor in midfield. Xabi Alonso plays the deep lying midfield role to perfection. They have options in Lassana Diarra and the very talented Sergio Canales.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to score goals but has failed to capture the imagination of the fans. Karim Benzema has endured a frustrating start to life in Spain and this will be a vital season for the Frenchman. Ronaldo, along with Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain form a formidable front three while Angel Di Maria is the only other option in attack.

Ajax

The Dutch giants have started their campaign in fine form, winning four and drawing one game in the Eredivisie so far. Martin Jol has done a great job steadying the ship since taking over in 2009. They finally ended their Champions League sabbatical by finishing 2nd in the Eredivisie last year and beating Dynamo Kiev in the play-offs. They are still quite far away from dominating Europe but at least they are moving in the right direction.

Maarten Stekelenburg is a top class keeper and has cemented his place at both Ajax and the Dutch National team. The signing of Andre Ooijer has added experience to their defence; even at the age of 36, the Dutchman's a strong presence at the back.They possess two of the most talented young defenders in Europe in Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Vertonghen is a supremely confident center back whose versatility has been a boon to Ajax, sadly he is suspended on matchday 1, and his presence will be sorely missed.

Denny De Zeeuw and Eyong Enoh form a combative central midfield. Ajax will be slightly hampered by the injuries to Rasmus Lindgren and Nicolás Lodeiro. This leaves them with Siem De Jong as the only quality option in the attacking midfield role. The Swiss player has come through the famed youth system at Ajax and has shown glimpses of his talent so far.

The attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Urby Emanuelson have the pace and quality to unsettle any defence. Suarez and Hamdaoui have been the top scorers in Holland over the past two seasons respectively. Like Vertonghen, Suarez is also going to miss this game due to suspension, and his absence could prove vital in the way this game swings.

Head to Head:

Ajax are one of the few clubs in Europe who can boast of a 67% win record against Real Madrid. In six previous meetings the Dutch giants have recorded 4 wins, a draw and a loss. The last two results came in their first ever meeting over two legs back in 1967. Their last meeting was 15 seasons ago with Ajax winning 2-0 at the Bernabeu courtesy of goals from Jari Litmanen and Patrick Kluivert.

19th Sept, 1995: Ajax 1-0 Real Madrid
22nd Nov, 1995: Real Madrid 0-2 Ajax

Probable Line-Ups:

Real Madrid (4-2-1-3): Casillas (GK), Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain

Madrid are expected to start in a 4-2-1-3 formationwith Iker Casillas in goal. They don't have too many options in defence, so they are expected to line up in familiar fashion at the back, with Ramos and Marcelo as full backs and Carvalho and Pepe in central defence. Xabi Alonso should start in central midfield alongside either Diarra or Khedira. Ozil should play in the advanced midfield role, thus providing the link between defence and attack.

Ronaldo and Higuain have cemented their places in attack, which leaves Di Maria and Benzema fighting for the remaining spot. Benzema looks likely to get the nod ahead of the Argentine, courtesy of his European experience.

Ajax (4-2-3-1) : Stekelenburg (Gk), Van Der Weil, Ooijer, Alderweireld, Anita, De Zeeuw, Enoh, De Jong, Emanuelson, Sulejmani, Hamdaoui

The Dutch side are expected to match Madrid with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Suarez and Vertonghen are suspended for Ajax and might be replaced by Miralem Sulejmani and Ooijer respectively. Stekelenburg should start in goal while Gregory Van Der Weil and Vernon Anita are expected to start as full backs. Alderweireld started in central defence at the weekend and look set to continue in midweek. Jol is expected to bring in Ooijer because of his vast experienc.

The two defensive midfielders, De Zeeuw and Enoh, will be vital if Ajax need to get something out of the game. They will be entrusted with the unenviable task of stopping the likes of Ronaldo and Ozil from penetrating the defence. De Jong should play just behind Sulejmani and Hamdaoui and will drop back into midfield when they lose the ball.

Prediction: Madrid must start as slight favourites thanks to home advantage. But Ajax are very capable of getting a positive result at the Bernabeu. Madrid aren't the complete article yet and its up to Ajax to take advantage of it.

Predicted Score: Real Madrid 2-1 Ajax

File Photograph Copyright: Ryu Voelkel

This article is the exclusive copyright of TheSportsCampus.com and permission to reproduce the same has not been granted.