It was Erling Haaland to return and return the smile to Borussia Dortmund. A double by the Norwegian sniper gave the victory to BVB this past weekend against Mainz (3-1) and placed his team in second position in the table, just one behind the leading Bayern. In the Champions League, Haaland wants to do his bit again tonight to practically seal the ticket to the quarterfinals. A win against co-leader Ajax away from home would mean their third victory and place a foot and a half in the next phase (follow the game live on As.com).
For this, Marco Rose will not be able to count on some heavyweights from the locker room. Pillars like Dahoud, Reyna, Guerreiro or Moukoko will miss the train crash in a Johan Cruijff Arena overflowing due to injury. The one that the Mister of the bees can count on is the giant Haaland, who did not complete the previous session before traveling to the Netherlands, but aims to return to Rose’s eleven. He will face Hallar, Ajax forward and Champions League top scorer to date with five goals.
Borussia is aware of the very tough bone they will have to gnaw tonight. Those of Erik ten Hag are leaders of the Eredivise and beat Besiktas (2-0) and Sporting (1-5) with more forcefulness than the German team. Ajax will be the team that, except for surprise, takes over the ball and tries to cover the ball exit of a BVB whose weapons continue to be verticality and speed. And a certain Haaland, who has scored 70 goals in 68 appearances and faces a defense that has only conceded three goals between the league and the Champions League this season.
AJAX: Pasveer; Mazraoui, Timber, Lisandro Martínez, Blind; Edson Álvarez, Gravenberch; Antony, Berghuis, Tadic; and Haller.
DORTMUND: Kobel; Meunier, Hummels, Akanji, Schulz; Witsel; Reus, Bellingham; Brandt, Haaland and Malen.
REFEREE: J. Gil Manzano (Spain).
STADIUM: Johan Cruijff Arena.
HOUR: 21:00 (M + Champions League 2).