Ajax vs Real Madrid preview - De Boer confident of progression

Posted Wednesday, December 07, 2011 by PA

Ajax boss Frank de Boer is confident his side will claim the point they need to make certain of their qualification for the Champions League knockout stages when they host Group D leaders Real Madrid.

The Dutch champions, currently second in the group, are virtually assured of their spot in the last 16 anyway given they are three points clear of third-placed Lyon - with whom they have twice drawn 0-0 - and hold a greatly superior goal difference over the French outfit.

Nonetheless, with Lyon taking on the whipping boys of the group Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, De Boer does not want to leave anything to chance - and is expecting his players to settle the issue themselves.

"I am convinced that we will get at least a point against Real Madrid," De Boer said.

"In that case, we will not need the help of Zagreb."

With five wins out of five so far, Spanish giants Real have already been confirmed as group winners and their coach Jose Mourinho is resting several key players for this fixture ahead of the crunch Primera Division showdown with Barcelona at the weekend.

Star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Sami Khedira and Lassana Diarra, defenders Marcelo and Sergio Ramos and goalkeeper Iker Casillas will all be missing from the Madrid team, but De Boer is not about to underestimate any side Mourinho puts out.

"Even if they don't play in their strongest formation, it's still a very good team," De Boer said.

"You saw that two weeks ago when they played a so-called 'B' team and took a 3-0 lead inside nine minutes against Dinamo Zagreb."

Ricardo Carvalho will also not feature for Madrid due to injury, but fellow defender Alvaro Arbeloa is back after a spell on the sidelines, while midfielder Xabi Alonso returns from suspension.

For Ajax, Toby Alderweireld is out with a hamstring injury sustained in training, but defensive colleague Gregory van der Weil could make his comeback to the side.

Forwards Miralem Sulejmani and Dimitri Bulykin should also be available despite recent knocks.