The 2018/19 Champions league playoff round features some of the biggest names in European football. The second game in the league path of the draw takes place on Wednesday 22nd August between Ajax and Dynamo Kiev in Amsterdam.
This is a match which would once have graced the group or latter stages of the tournament but such is the competition in the Champions League only one of these huge clubs can make it through to the group stages this season.
Ajax finished second in the Eredivisie last season, 4 points adrift of PSV Eindhoven. That means you must go back to the 2013/14 campaign to find the last time Ajax won the Dutch title and they were placed in the Champions league second qualifying round.
Ajax were paired with Sturm Graz of Austria and won the first leg at home 2-0 before wrapping up the tie with a good 3-1 away win. The third qualifying round saw Ajax meet Standard Liege of Belgium. This time they were away in the first leg and secured a 0-0 draw before seeing out the win 3-0 on home soil.
Having played six competitive games this season, Ajax are undefeated and will be hoping to continue that run into the group stages of the Champions League.
Trends show Ajax are tough to beat on home soil in the Champions league and the have won two and drawn three of their last five home matches. Ajax have scored in each of those five games and have kept a clean sheet in both home matches this season.
Dynamo Kiev, like their hosts, finished second in their domestic league last season but qualified for the Champions League third qualifying round. That means they have played just one match to reach this stage of the tournament as opposed to Ajax’s two games.
Dynamo Kiev met Slavia Prague in the third qualifying round and left the Czech Republic with a 1-1 draw from the first leg. With the all-important away goal in the bag, Dynamo Kiev won the second leg 2-0 on home soil to seal a 3-1 aggregate win.
Interestingly, Dynamo Kiev have played four matches in the Ukraine Premier League this season and won all four of them 1-0 to sit top of the table. However, their away record in the Champions league is not great and Dynamo Kiev have drawn four and lost two of their last six away matches. Dynamo Kiev have scored only two goals across those six games.
Looking ahead to the team news and Ajax have a long list of injured players to cope with ahead of the game. Kasper Dolberg, Hassane Bande, Amin Younes and Joel Veltman are all unavailable.
Dynamo Kiev do not have any additional injury or suspension concerns following their league game on the weekend. They are expected to go with the same starting XI which picked up a 1-1 draw at Slavia Prague.
Dynamo Kiev will want to get an away goal in this game but have struggled to consistently score on the road in the Champions League. Ajax should come away with the win and could keep a clean sheet in the process.