There is no doubt what the major story was in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League. Ajax came through the qualifying rounds of the competition to reach the semi-final and they almost got to the final.
However, due to the success last season, Ajax have lost some of their key players from that campaign. It will be interesting to see how they cope having to start in the qualifying rounds once more. On Tuesday 6th August Ajax travel to Greece to play PAOK Salonica.
The hosts won the Greek Super League last season, finishing 5 points clear of Olympiakos who were second. That has seen them qualify for the Champions League third qualifying round in the Champions Path where they will meet Ajax in the first leg at the Stadio Toumbas.
PAOK Salonica have yet to begin their domestic campaign this season, meaning this match will be their first competitive encounter.They have performed well in recent friendly games, beating Universitatea Cluj 5-0, Sint-Truiden 4-0, Anderlecht 3-1 and Fortuna Sittard 5-1.
They reached the Champions League playoffs last season only to lose 4-1 at home to Benfica in the second leg which saw them dumped out of the competition. Trends show PAOK Salonica have lost just one of their last six Champions League games but have failed to win in their last three attempts.
They have won two of their last nine at home, losing five and both teams have scored in each of the last five.
Ajax narrowly won the 2018/19 Eredivisie by 3 points from PSV Eindhoven. That was good enough to see them progress directly to the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Their new domestic season started on the weekend and Ajax were held to a 2-2 draw at Vitesse, which was not a great start.
However, Ajax have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five Champions League games. All three of the wins came away from home at Real Madrid, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, trends show Ajax are undefeated in their last ten away Champions League matches. There have been fives wins and five draws and both teams have scored in four of their last six on the road.
Looking ahead to the team news and PAOK Salonica have some injury problems. Maurício, Vieirinha and Pontus Wernbloom are all key players who are expected to miss out for the hosts.
🇬🇷#UCL #paoaja pic.twitter.com/8mB3VQ6baE— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 5, 2019
🇬🇷#UCL #paoaja pic.twitter.com/8mB3VQ6baE
Ajax have lost some key players of their own in the transfer market this summer. They will be hoping the likes of Quincy Promes, Edson Alvarez, Razvan Marin and Lisandro Martinez can all have a positive impact on the team.
This could be a high scoring match, with both teams scoring. Ajax have the experience of last season on their side and that could help push them to a crucial victory in this first leg match.