Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax: Champions League at a glance
Ajax are through to the quarter-finals after a stunning 4-1 win at Real Madrid.
All you need to know in 60 seconds
Ajax produced a performance for the ages at the Santiago Bernabéu to overturn their first-leg deficit and knock out Real Madrid. Goals from Hakim Ziyech and David Neres turned the tie on its head inside 18 minutes, with Dušan Tadić – who had assisted both first-half efforts, sensationally so for the second – adding a thumping third just past the hour to leave Madrid with a mountain to climb.
Marco Asensio’s strike gave the hosts – who had also hit the woodwork through Raphaël Varane and Gareth Bale – brief hope, only for Lasse Schöne to quickly curl in direct from a free-kick wide on the left.
View from the stadium: Ben Gladwell
It was a memorable night in the Spanish capital
It was a memorable night in the Spanish capital
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Ajax had been unfortunate to lose the first leg and tonight they showed their true value with a courageous and outstanding display. Four years ago Real Madrid conceded four at home to Schalke in the last 16 but progressed regardless. This is a far more painful defeat for the holders, though, who had not lost a UEFA Champions League knockout tie since the 2014/15 semi-finals.
Man of the match: Dušan Tadić
Sometimes there is some debate about who has had the most influence on a game, but not this evening. Tadić was imperious, setting up two of the goals and scoring a beauty himself. His range of flicks, dribbles and passes must have reminded the home supporters of the great Zinédine Zidane, no less. Always available for the out ball, always apparently one step ahead of his opponent; he was unplayable.
