Match 0508: Juventus vs Ajax Amsterdam

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League UE CHAMPIONS
Match JTUS vs AJAX
Match No. 0508
Sales Close ^ 23/11/04 9:00PM

1X2

Home 1.70
Draw 3.25
Away 4.30

1/2 GOAL

Home JTUS (-1½) 2.90
Away AJAX (+1½) 1.33

TOTAL GOALS

No. of Goals

0 6.20
1 3.70
2 3.70
3 3.90
4 6.50
5 10.00
6 19.00
7 38.00
8 85.00
9+ 135.00

HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE

Selection

H-H 2.55
H-D 13.00
H-A 27.00
D-H 4.60
D-D 5.00
D-A 9.70
A-H 19.00
A-D 13.00
A-A 9.70

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Ajax desperate to revive flagging fortunes

AFC Ajax travel to Turin to face the already-qualified Juventus FC more in hope than expectation as victory may be required against one of only two teams to have won all four matches to date in this season's UEFA Champions League if the Dutch side are to advance past the group stage of the competition.

Two Pavel Nedved goals in four outings have provided Juventus FC with six points in this season's UEFA Champions League

Familiar foes

Both teams are familiar foes having met in European club competitions on nine occasions to date, a record among all the teams drawn together in the 2004/05 Champions League stage. But the sides most memorable occasions have come in two final meetings, the first coming in their first ever clash in UEFA competition when Ajax won the 1972/73 final with a fifth-minute goal from Johnny Rep.

Revenge

All of 23 years later, the sides met again in their second final, but this time Juventus exacted revenge after extra-time and penalties. Fabrizio Ravanelli put Juve ahead after 12 minutes of the contest held at Rome's Olimpico stadium, but Jari Litmanen levelled five minutes from the break and neither team added to their tally leaving penalties to decided the winner. Vladimir Jugovic ensured that Juve won, scoring their fourth penalty en route to a 4-2 success after Edgar Davids and Sonny Silooy had missed their spot-kicks.

Ajax struggling

But the 2004/05 season has been a struggle for the Dutch side. Having lost matches to each of their group rivals, Ronald Koeman's side have only three points from four outings, level with Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC their conquerors on matchday four, but only three points behind FC Bayern München, whom they meet in Amsterdam on the final matchday.

Economical Juventus

Juve, meanwhile, have won each of their four matches by the narrowest margin without conceding a goal. Economical in terms of goalscoring despite having former Ajax striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks, Fabio Capello's side will look to continue the momentum of their efficient performances into the post-Christmas knockout phase.

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Head to Head

2004/2005
European Cup Ajax 0-1 Juventus 15-09-2004

1996/1997
European Cup Juventus 4-1 Ajax 23-04-1997
European Cup Ajax 1-2 Juventus 09-04-1997

1995/1996
European Cup Juventus 1-1 Ajax 22-05-1996

1977/1978
European Cup Juventus 1-1 Ajax 15-03-1978
European Cup Ajax 1-1 Juventus 01-03-1978

1974/1975
UEFA Cup Ajax 2-1 Juventus 11-12-1974
UEFA Cup Juventus 1-0 Ajax 27-11-1974

1972/1973
European Cup Ajax 1-0 Juventus 20-05-1973

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League UE CHAMPIONS
Match JTUS vs AJAX
Match No. 0508
Sales Close ^ 23/11/04 9:00PM

1X2

Home 1.77
Draw 3.22
Away 3.95

1/2 GOAL

Home JTUS (-1½) 3.20
Away AJAX (+1½) 1.27

TOTAL GOALS

No. of Goals

0 6.20
1 3.70
2 3.70
3 3.90
4 6.50
5 10.00
6 19.00
7 38.00
8 85.00
9+ 135.00

HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE

Selection

H-H 2.65
H-D 13.00
H-A 29.00
D-H 4.60
D-D 4.65
D-A 9.70
A-H 22.00
A-D 13.00
A-A 8.80

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CL Preview: Juventus-Ajax

An already qualified Juventus side will host Ajax at the Delle Alpi stadium of Turin for the 5th matchday of the Champions League.

BACKGROUND

The Italian league leaders have already guaranteed themselves qualification and the top spot in Group C and will therefore not have much motivation for this match apart from trying to keep a clean sheet and remain at full points in the standings. Also the bianconeri will also have their heads on next Sundays clash against Inter in Milan.

On the other hand, Ajax desperately need the three points to still stand a chance of qualifying to the next stage. A win would at worst keep the Dutch side three points away from Bayern Munich and the qualification will be decided in the direct encounter in the last match day.

However, Fabio Capello has already stated that the Old Lady will not give Ajax any favour and Koemans side will have to fight hard to earn the three points at stake. In fact, the Juve mentor will field a near full-team as he doesnt want his side to lose its second consecutive match following last Fridays Coppa Italia defeat at the hands of Serie A rock-bottom side Atalanta.

Ajax are not going through their best season in recent years as they lie in fourth place, 10 points behind leaders PSV. Still, the Amsterdam side was able to win convincingly in their last game as they defeated away from home last-placed De Graafschap 5-0.

Juventus are doing better than expected this season in all the main competitions as they have gained a 6-point advantage over second placed Milan in Serie A and another 6-point lead over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

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TEAM NEWS

Juventus

The bianconeri will field most first-team regulars except for Del Piero and Zebina, who have not been called-up, and Cannavaro and Emerson who will be rested.

Ajax

The Dutch side will play with just one striker and fill-up the midfield with many midfielders to try and contrast the bianconeri and surprise them on the counter attack.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus)

The Swedish forward will try to impress in front of his home crowd as he faces his recent past which helped him gain fame and visibility in these past years. Will he be able to score the goal of the ex?

Rafael Van der Vaart(Ajax)

The most creative and dangerous player of his side will want to win this game to help Ajax but also to defeat his personal enemy: Ibrahimovic.

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Capello: "We Are Juventus"

Juventus boss Fabio Capello believes donning the kit of the biancocelesti should be enough motivation ahead of the Turin club's Champions League tie with Ajax.
"The only motivation we need to do well is because we are Juventus, and we are playing in Europe. We will give maximum effort and determination out on the pitch," Capello said to reporters before Tuesday night's match at the Delle Alpi.

The Italian giants have earned maximum points to lead Group C, but Ajax face a must-win situation Tuesday night. The Dutch side have just three points, with only two fixtures remaining from which to overtake second-place Bayern Munich (6 points).

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Preview - Juventus vs Ajax

Juventus coach Fabio Capello insists his in-form side will do Ajax no favours in Tuesday's Champions League encounter at the Delle Alpi.

The Dutch giants travel to Turin in desperate need of a win in order to have any realistic chance of joining their Italian opponents in the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition.

Juve currently lead Group C with 12 points, six more than Bayern Munich, while Ajax are level on three points with Maccabi Tel-Aviv after four games.

But Capello has reiterated that his team are not distracted by next weekend's crunch Serie A encounter against Internazionale, and that they are determined to maintain their winning run in Europe.

``We have already qualified but that doesn't mean that we should not seek the victory,'' said Capello.

``We always have to have the same motivation to do well, because we are Juventus and winning is always important for the European ranking.

``In this game we will play with the same focus and determination.'' However, Capello is expected to rest a number of his top players for the clash with Ronald Koeman's side.

Juve are six points clear of second-placed AC Milan in Serie A but a defeat this weekend could see the Rossoneri reduce the deficit.

Defender Jonathan Zebina is expected to return to action after a one-month absence through injury, and French midfielder Olivier Kapo is also likely to be included in the starting XI.

Marcelo Zalayeta looks set to partner former Ajax forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack. Capello is looking for Ibrahimovic to play a major role on Tuesday, as he lines up against his old club.

``Zlatan will like to have a starring role and this is normal when you face your former team-mates,'' said Capello.

``The important thing is that he is calm and that he plays as he knows because then he becomes a crucial player for us.''

Ajax have had an indifferent start in the Dutch Eredivisie but Saturday's 5-0 win at De Graafschap offered their supporters hope that they have finally found the form that will see them challenge PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and surprise-package AZ Alkmaar.

However, Koeman has a number of selection problems with Jonny Heitinga, Steven Pienaar and keeper Bogdan Lobont all absent through injury.