Ajax will host Rangers on Wednesday night in arguably the Champions League’s most difficult group. After a 12-year absence from the competition, Rangers are back in the Champions League and must face off with Dutch champions Ajax to begin.
Liverpool and Napoli round out Champions League Group A, making it a group of death between four very strong clubs. Ajax and Rangers will both hope to get a leg-up in Group A on Wednesday at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Who can't wait for tomorrow? 😅#UCL #ajaran— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) September 6, 2022
Who can't wait for tomorrow? 😅#UCL #ajaran
Ajax go into the match in sterling form. The Amsterdammers are a perfect five wins from five matches on the domestic stage. Despite Erik ten Hag leaving for Manchester United and losing over eight first-team players on transfer in the offseason, Ajax have started well.
Rangers have not had the same strong start on the domestic front. The Glasgow club is coming off of a surprise 4-0 loss away to Celtic at the weekend. The defeat leaves Rangers five points off of Celtic in the Premiership.
Wednesday’s match will be just the fifth all-time encounter between Ajax and Rangers.
These teams have not met in 26 years in European competition. Ajax hold the head-to-head record against Rangers with three wins and one loss.
Just one player is on the injury list for Ajax currently. Owen Wijndal is suffering from a fitness issue and is a major doubt to play.
Ajax may have sold last season’s top scorer Sebastien Haller, but summer signing Steven Bergwijn has picked up the slack.
Bergwijn has six goals in five Eredivisie matches. Striker Brian Brobbey returned from RB Leipzig on transfer in the offseason. Brobbey has two Eredivisie goals.
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has several players on the injury list going into matchday No. 1 of the Champions League. Defenders Ben Davies and John Souttar are both rule out with injury.
Tom Lawrence is ruled out with a knee problem. Kemar Roofe is a doubt to play along with Filip Helander. Ianis Hagis is nursing a long-term knee injury and is ruled out until November.
Rangers’ summer signing Antonio Colak has been a revelation in front of goal. He has scored four goals in six league matches.
Ajax may have lost a manager and more than eight first-team players, but the Amsterdammers should still be too much for Rangers. The Blues will struggle in the final third with Ajax posting a 3-0 win. Stegen Bergwijn could get on the scoresheet for Ajax.