Real Madrid vs Ajax – A trip down memory lane

The Champions League 2010/2011 group stage kicks off this week, and while the draw undoubtedly threw up some intriguing clashes, is any as nostalgia-inducingly intriguing as Real Madrid vs Ajax? David Cockcroft assesses a fixture just dripping with history…

The Champions League group stages begin this week, and the fixture that stands out on matchday one has to be Wednesday’s clash between Real Madrid and Ajax.

With no less than 13 European Cup wins between them, these are two of the competition’s most successful clubs. Their names still bear significant weight even though it’s been 8 years since either of them last lifted the famous trophy.

And while it is Real Madrid that boast the majority of these successes, a notable record nine, it is Ajax that have fared better in past meetings between the two clubs.

After six encounters the Dutch side have only failed to win twice, tasting defeat just once. However, since the teams last meeting at the Bernabeu in November 1995, there has been a significant shift in power.

With players like Danny Blind, Edgar Davids, Jari Litmanen, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and the De Boer twins, Ajax was most certainly the team of the nineties. As the decade drew to a close though, it was Real Madrid who took over the helm with their very own star-studded team.

Real Madrid have chalked up 3 European Cups since that mid-nineties clash, all claimed within a cluster of many other various domestic and worldwide successes during the ‘Galacticos era’.

However, it appears the 1995 defeat by Ajax aided the start of this successful period in Madrid’s history.

Legend has it that Real Madrid youth team coaches show the video of this match to their young players, demonstrating to them how the game should be played. And it isn’t the men in white they hope their youngsters will mimic.

A Dutch lesson

The second Group D meeting between the two sides that year finished with Ajax claiming a famous 2-0 victory. The Dutch side was coming into this Champions League campaign on the back of an unbeaten season in both Europe and their domestic league, and subsequently were reigning European champions.

The holders set the tone to the game from the first whistle, with composed and reliable captain Danny Blind laying the foundations for his young teammates to play from. Edgar Davids, then only 22, controlled the game from midfield using pacy outlets Finidi George and Marc Overmars to penetrate the Madrid back line.

The team of the nineties turned up that night at the peak of their powers, something that was apparent to the then Madrid coach Jorge Valdano who after game said, “Ajax aren’t just the team of the nineties, they’re approaching football utopia”.

After 19-year-old sensation Patrick Kluivert had a perfectly good goal chalked off early on for a ‘foul’ on his marker and strike partner Jari Litmanen saw his freekick cross the line but not given, it was only ever going to be a matter of time before the champions scored.

The first goal came through Litmanen, after George credited a world class run with an equally impressive pass. The Ajax number 10 finished with ease and after 64 minutes of dominance the champions were finally ahead.

It took little over 10 minutes for the second goal. More delightful movement from the front two provided Overmars with possession and room to push the ball past his marker and square for Kluivert to convert.

The visitors moved through Madrid effortlessly, each player contributing to what was a finely tuned machine. Louis Van Gaal had formulated a very special team and the spirit was evident in how they played, communicated and celebrated.

What was more charming than the outstanding performance was the response given by the locals at the final whistle. The display from Ajax was so good that it prompted the Real Madrid fans to stay behind and applaud the visiting team.

The Dutch side lapped up the ovation, and in scenes that could replicate a cup win the players celebrated around the stadium with approval.

Van Gaal’s side were respected and feared by all in the mid-nineties. A team built on incredible young local talent that went on to a second successive European Cup final that season, only to be halted by Juventus in a penalty shootout.

Fast forward 15 years and the Amsterdam club will not be arriving at the Bernabeu in the limelight of their predecessors.

Martin Jol’s side return to the Champions League following a five year absence and with odds on them winning the competition ranging from 80 to 125/1, expectation levels are no where near as high as they once were.

With a new batch of expensive exports now under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, it will be the Spanish side going into this one as overwhelming favourites and not even the most optimistic Ajax fan will fancy an away win this time around.

Whatever the outcome is on Wednesday evening there is one thing that is certain. The winner will not be as classy and as devastating as that great team was on November 22nd 1995.

David Cockcroft is a freelance writer and contributor to Just Football. He can be found over on Twitter.

(pic courtesy of Ajax official website)

Ajax, Champions League, Europe, Real Madrid