Amsterdam (AFP)
Cold shower in Amsterdam: Seven months after the semi-final lost to Tottenham, Ajax were beaten 1-0 by Valencia and eliminated from the Champions League as Spaniards and Chelsea advance to the round of 16 .
On this sixth day of the group stage, a draw was enough for the men of Erik ten Hag to move on to the next round. But striker Rodrigo and his team-mates in Valencia were more realistic than their hosts and Chelsea clinched the second ticket to the C1 finals by beating Lille in the other Group H match.
Improbable at kickoff, the elimination of the Dutch remained a distant prospect in the first 20 minutes of the match, balanced.
More voluntarily, Ajax ran into good organization and suffered from an unusual clumsiness in the construction of his offensives.
In front, Valencia hardly dared to reveal itself, but was often threatening in the Dutch half of ground.
The showdown finally turned in the 24th minute, when Ferran Torres shifted Rodrigo to the right of the Dutch penalty area.
Free of all scoring, the friend of Kevin Gameiro in the Valencia attack has time to adjust André Onana to give a decisive advantage to his.
Stung and worn by a full stadium, Ajax has returned to the assault on the cage of Jaume Doménech, without ever finding the flaw, despite some big opportunities for Donny van de Beek (43), Daley Blind ( 47th) or Hakim Ziyech (67th).
Nothing has done: Tuesday night, efficiency has won over good intentions, and Ajax will have to settle for the Europa League to hope to live a new epic European.
On the Spanish side, Valencia are in the round of 16 for the first time since the 2012/2013 season.
The Spanish club will be accompanied by Chelsea, 2nd in group H after his victory against Lille, acquired thanks to goals from Abraham (19th) and Azpilicueta (35th) and despite that recorded by Remy (78th).
More rough than usual, the Amstellodamois appeared dull and chained a second setback after the surprising defeat against Willem II Tilburg on Friday in the league.
There is no question of demobilizing: Sunday, Ajax plays another game at the top in Alkmaar, 2nd of the Eredivisie with three points behind.
Defeat prohibited, under penalty of losing on all the tables in a week!
© 2019 AFP