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2021/22 UEFA Champions League
Round of 16 - First-Leg
SL Benfica v Ajax Amsterdam
Estádio Da Luz
Lisbon, Portugal
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Kick-Off 22h00
SL Benfica will square off with Ajax Amsterdam in a
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match on February 23.
The Portuguese football heavyweights advanced to the knockout phase after finishing second in Group E behind German champions Bayern Munich.
Benfica ran out 2-0 winners over Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv in their last Group E game and the win ended their three-match winless run in this competition.
The Eagles defeated Kyiv in their last home match in this competition and the win saw Benfica return to winning ways at Estadio Da Luiz after Bayern had ended their six-match unbeaten as the hosts.
Meanwhile, Ajax progressed to the knockout phase after finishing at the top of Group C ahead of Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.
The Dutch champions claimed a 4-2 win over Lisbon in their final Group C game and they extended their unbeaten streak to six matches in the competition.
Ajax edged out Turkish champions Besiktas 2-1 in their last home game in the Champions League and the win stretched their unbeaten run to three matches on the road.
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“He is an Ajax player, but he will want to perform,” Ajax manager Erik ten Hag said of the former Ajax defender and current Benfica star Jan Vertonghen.
“He’s made friends here, including Daley Blind. But once on the field, it’s eaten or be eaten. As a rule, Portuguese football does not suit Dutch teams, but we have proven the opposite.
“First against Benfica (in the 2018/19 group stages) and this season against Sporting.”
The last meeting between Benfica and Ajax in the Champions League was on 7 November 2018.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in an encounter that took place at the Estádio Da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal.
Head-to-Head stats (UEFA Champions League)
Matches - 7
Benfica - 1
Ajax - 4
Draws - 2
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