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Real Madrid French striker Karim Benzema, scorer against Ajax Amsterdam. REUTERS / Wolfgang Rattay

Real Madrid won 2-1 at Ajax Amsterdam in the round of 16 first leg of the European Cup of Football Clubs (Champions League). The Dutch side, however, had a tough time with the title holder for most of the game. In the other match of 13 February 2019, Tottenham dominated Borussia Dortmund 3-0.

Real Madrid has put an end to any suspense in the eighth-final European Cup of football clubs (Champions League) against Ajax Amsterdam? The Madrilenians have certainly taken an ascendancy on the Amstellodamois in the race to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. But the reigning European champions have suffered in the Netherlands.

The "Merengue" could have been led 1-0 in the 37th minute, if defender Nicolás Tagliafico had not been deprived of a goal following the use of video assistance (VAR). The referee has indeed felt that there was an offside, when the Argentine took the ball off the head.

Shortly before, the Spanish club had already been allowed two warnings, the Croatian Dušan Tadić having sent the ball on the right amount (26th) and the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois having interposed just in front of the Moroccan Hakim Ziyech.

Real Madrid Realistic

Rushed as rarely, Real Madrid remains dangerous and proved with Karim Benzema. In the 59th minute, the French opened the scoring with a powerful shot (0-1). Hakim Ziyech then equalized from a point blank shot (1-1, 75th). But the Madrilenians, much more experienced than the young players of Ajax, found again the fault in the 87th minute thanks to Marco Asensio (1-2, 87th).

The superb atmosphere that reigned in the Johan Cruyff ArenA went up a notch when Kasper Dolberg appeared in front of Courtois (90 + 3). But the Dane slipped, ruining Dutch hopes of a 2-2 draw.

Tottenham sweeps Dortmund

Ajax will have to reverse the trend in Spain on March 5th. It will not be easy. But that's not worse than what Borussia Dortmund expects on the same night. The German club was indeed swept 3-0 by Tottenham, in the round of 16 first leg. London goals were scored by Son Heung-min (47), Jan Vertonghen (83) and Fernando Llorente (86).