Ajax chances look good as fans plan massive stadium arrival party
Excitement is mounting in Amsterdam as the Champions League semi-final match between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur approaches. Ajax fans are planning the "biggest entrada ever" at the Johan Cruijff stadium before the match. Statistically, Ajax has a very good chance to make it through to the finals or the first time since 1996, NU.nl reports.
Based on the history of all European club competitions, there is an 88 percent chance that the Amsterdam team will go through to the Champions League finals after last week's 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur. For comparison, in the previous rounds Ajax had only a 6 percent chance of progressing after the first match against Real Madrid and a 27 percent chance after the first match against Juventus.
The balance at home against English teams also speaks in favor of Ajax. In eleven matches against English clubs, Ajax won five times, ended in a draw twice, and lost three times, according to the newspaper.
The semi-final match in the Johan Cruijff Arena starts at 9:00 p.m. tonight. The team that progresses to the finals will play against Liverpool, who won 4-0 against FC Barcelona on Tuesday thanks to two goals each by Georginio Wijnaldum and Divock Origi.
Football fans in Amsterdam are gearing up for an exciting night. The hardcore Ajax fans, the F-Side, already "welcomed" the English team to Amsterdam by setting off a bunch of fireworks outside the Van der Valk hotel, where Tottenham spent the night, at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
The F-Side is organizing the "largest entrada ever" in the Arenapark, according to RTL Nieuws. Though the supporters' group did call on its members not to bring any fireworks along, adhering to Amsterdam's ban on fireworks before, during and after the match. Amsterdam also banned face-covering clothing, but said that the entrada will be allowed in the park next to the stadium. The festivities will start at 7:00 p.m.
A large number of Tottenham fans are also coming to Amsterdam for the match. The English club advised fans with tickets to gather on Dam Square before the match, from where they should go to nearby Amsterdam Central Station by 6:30 p.m. to make sure they arrive at the stadium in time. Fans without tickets are advised to watch the match at a bar in the city center, as there are no bars around the stadium. The English club called on fans to "avoid the pubs Monico, Hof van Holland and surrounding bars at Rembrandtplein as they will be occupied by Ajax fans".
Tickets for the match have long since sold out. The police warn fans to not buy tickets second-hand on online market places or at the stadium, because there is no guarantee that these tickets are real. Fans with counterfeit tickets will not be allowed into the stadium.
