The NHL playoffs are a hot spot for star power, not just because of the talent but also the attention their games draw on social media. This is especially true this year when Twitter had its most-watched hockey game ever in Manchester with three overtime periods and 13 total goals.
The “minor” contests are sometimes the most entertaining and consequential. That was definitely the case for Tuesday’s Champions League match between Ajax and Benfica. Benfica advanced to the UCL quarterfinals with a 1-0 win against Ajax thanks to Darwin Nunez’s 77th-minute header (3-2 on aggregate).
The outcome was unexpected on many levels, given that Benfica is now third in its domestic league, behind Porto and Sporting. They never truly presented a danger in the assault since they were able to withstand the Dutch behemoths away from home.
The following are the five most important takeaways from Tuesday’s contest.
Defensive Master Class of Benfica
Benfica defeated Ajax for the first time since November thanks to Odysseas Vlachodimos. Sebastien Haller was essentially marked out of the match by Jan Vertongen and Nicolas Otamendi, thereby erasing Ajax’s bite. Ajax controlled possession, with the ball for over 70% of the game. Haller only got 38 touches.
Benfica displayed defensive mastery, restraining Ajax and shooting from the positions they want. Only two of Ajax’s 16 shots hit the target, resulting in an xG of 1.21. Ajax had a shot every five minutes of the contest until Benfica scored in the 77th minute. After then, Ajax had just two efforts in the last 23 minutes, neither of which were on target.
Ajax’s goals have dwindled.
Ajax has a long history of playing free-flowing offensive football, and they have once again been the great entertainers in the Champions League this season. Ajax have scored two or more goals in each of their previous seven games.
Their 22 goals in the Champions League before Tuesday meant that they were averaging nearly three goals per game during that period of consistency. However, they were frustrated by a deep-lying Benfica side.
The Portuguese side had previously preserved seven clean sheets in this season’s campaign (including qualifiers), with their only goals coming against Bayern Munich in the group stages. Throughout the game, the Portuguese defense displayed excellent defensive discipline and attention.
Benfica is in good shape.
With their earned group stage passage over Barcelona, Benfica will look back on their participation in the Champions League knockout rounds as a goal achieved. The Portuguese giants, on the other hand, have had a disappointing season.
Despite his European successes, Jorge Jesus was fired by the Lisbon club early this season. They trail champions and local rivals Sporting Lisbon by six points, and league leaders Porto by a massive 12 points.
Benfica’s opponents knocked them out of domestic cup tournaments, but it is their league position that will worry their supporters the most. They are on track to finish third and will not automatically qualify for the Champions League group stages next season, posing numerous difficult qualifications to reach the tournament’s money-spinning round.
They’ll enjoy this cup run as long as it lasts.
The theory of pass and push
When playing in Europe, one of the most amazing characteristics of this Ajax team in recent years is how they do not adapt their playing style or compromise. In the Champions League, Ten Hag uses the same formation and style of play as he did in the Eredivisie.
Tuesday’s encounter against Benfica continued their streak of playing a fluid 4-2-3-1 style in each of their games this season. They use this formation for the majority of domestic matches, and it is mirrored across the club — with the option to adapt to 4-3-3 if necessary.
The instructions, not the system’s form, are the most important aspect of the system. As a result, they stick to their passing, moving, and pressing mentality. They don’t mind pushing up and hustling the opponent in their half.
Is it the end of an era for Ajax?
With Erik ten Hag linked to Manchester United, Andre Onana expected to join Inter Milan this summer, and bids for Ryan Gravenberch, Jurrien Timber, and others expected, Ajax seems to be in for another summer of rebuilding. They’re used to it; after all, Ajax’s presence in the 2019 semifinals seems like a lifetime ago. It’s difficult to dismantle a team and compete at the top levels year after year. Unfortunately, there isn’t much Ajax can do to help here. Outside of Europe’s top five leagues, clubs can only hold their emerging talents for so long.
Because Ajax makes the most of minimal resources, defeats like the one against Benfica on Tuesday hurt the more. When players depart, defeats like these always speed up. Ten Hag, on the other hand, has been in control of Ajax since 2018, and his departure will herald in a new era when, not if, it occurs.
