For offensive player Hakim Ziyech of Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid or Juventus Turin were not the most difficult opponents on the way to the semi-finals of the current Champions League season, but Benfica Lisbon.
When asked who had been the toughest opponent in Ajax’s successful CL season so far, the Moroccan answered briefly and concisely in an interview with Uefa.com before the first leg against Tottenham (1-0): “I think it was Benfica.”
In the group stage, the Dutch representative beat the Lisbon club 1-0 in front of a home crowd, while Ziyech and his teammates did not exceed 1-1 during their visit to Portugal.
Surprise club Ajax are now among the top four teams in the 2019/20 CL season following their successes over Real Madrid (round of sixteen) and Juventus Turin (quarter-finals). Amsterdam also played FC Bayern Munich in the group stage.
The Moroccan international had several reasons to cheer, but above all a moment in his memory that flashed through his mind: “There really are some. If I had to choose, I’d choose the away game at Juventus Turin.”
After a 2:1 victory in Turin, Ajax qualified for the round of the last four after a 1:1 victory in the Johan Cruyff Arena.
It was not only in this encounter that the young savages from Amsterdam showed their best side. When asked which of the Ajax jewels would blossom best in the current CL season, the 26-year-old not only thought of two names: “There are several, but to name just two, I say Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
Last Tuesday, the Eredivisie club beat Tottenham 1-0 in the semi-final first leg. Ziyech brilliantly prepared the winning goal by Donny van de Beek.
