In group D, Ajax traveled to Denmark this Monday ready to achieve their first victory in the current Champions League against Midtjylland, but they did so in the draw because 11 of their players tested positive for coronavirus. In the other meeting, Atalanta and Liverpool will star in an attractive duel in Bergamo with the first place at stake.
Ajax, who traveled with the 17 players that were available to them, did not disclose the identity of the infected, but Denmark among those who did not travel were four key players such as Dusan Tadic, Andre Onana, Ryan Gravenberch and Davy Klaassen. Also Maarten Stekelenburg.
Four key pieces, Tadic, Onana, Gravenberch and Klaasen, among those absent
Thus, the only goalkeeper called up is Kjell Scherpen, who plays for Ajax B and will make his first team debut against Midtjylland. The club will retest the players who are out and, if they test negative, it could summon them at the last minute to travel to Denmark.
Erik ten Hag, ‘ajacied’ coach, said that “those affected would have been able to play, by the regulations of each country on the coronavirus, if the meeting had been in the Netherlands”.
The coronavirus also affects football and Ajax is being one of the affected teams. In August, the Covid-19 passed its goalkeeper André Onana, who was feared that he had become infected again in October during the Cameroon concentration, but in the end he tested negative. Now he is one of those who have not traveled to Denmark.
The game is crucial for the team led by Erik ten Hag. It must be borne in mind that in this league the ‘ajacied’ have only added one point and are third in the group, 5 from Liverpool and 3 from Atalanta. Ajax started losing against the 'reds' (0-1) and in the second match they drew against Atalanta (2-2).
Midtjylland-Ajax
Arena Herning, 21.00 (Movistar Champions League)
Midtjylland: Hansen; J. Andersson, Sviatchenko, Scholz, Paulinho; Onyeka, Cajuste, Dreyer, Sisto, Mabil; Kaba
Ajax: Scherpen; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Promes, Ekkelenkamp, Edson Álvarez; Neres, Traoré and Antony
Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)