Ajax continue torrid form in European competition

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Ajax 0 - 2 Benfica

Ajax’s bleak Champions League campaign took another turn as they fell to fellow strugglers Benfica, a result that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the league phase.

Author | Ed

Stadium | Johan Cruijff ArenA

Champions League | Ajax v Benfica | View from the stands

Their form in Europe has been wretched, with this defeat marking a fifth successive loss in the competition after ending last season with three straight reverses in the Europa League.

Benfica arrived in Amsterdam on their own dismal run of six defeats but secured a first Champions League win under Jose Mourinho, striking early through Samuel Dahl’s emphatic drive after six minutes. Ajax created openings yet found Anatoliy Trubin in resolute form, the goalkeeper denying Davy Klaassen, Rayane Bounida and later Oscar Gloukh at his near post.

Their resistance counted for little in the end as Benfica doubled their lead in stoppage time. Leandro Barreiro broke clear and hammered in a decisive second to lift the visitors’ hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. For Ajax, the outlook is grim with no points on the board and only a solitary goal to show for their efforts.

Ajax fans couldn't inspire a better performance

Before kick-off, Ajax fans created a wonderful atmosphere that wouldn’t have looked out of place in any ground in the world. However, it couldn’t inspire a better performance leaving the club looking at a very early elimination. 

Mourinho inspires a classic Champions League away performance

The two-time Champions League winning coach had begun his Benfica tenure with several consecutive defeats, a run that left the side at the foot of the group and viewed as distant outsiders to progress to the knockout stage.

After their most recent loss to Bayer Leverkusen on 5 November, Mourinho insisted he still believed his team could force their way into the top 24 positions required to continue in the competition.

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