Match report

Apoel Nicosia 0-0 Ajax: A Tense UEFA Champions League Draw

Apoel Nicosia
Apoel Nicosia
0–0
FT
Ajax
Ajax
Aug 20, 2019

Apoel Nicosia held Ajax to a goalless draw in their UEFA Champions League encounter, resulting in a tense match filled with yellow cards and a dramatic red card for Ajax's N. Mazraoui. Despite Ajax's dominance on the field, neither team could break through the defensive barrier. This result solidifies the competitive atmosphere in the group stage.

Key Facts

  • • Apoel Nicosia 0-0 Ajax
  • • N. Mazraoui of Ajax received a red card at the 80th minute
  • • Ajax had 6 yellow cards: N. Mazraoui, Razvan Marin, Joël Veltman, Lisandro Martínez, N. Tagliafico, and D. Tadić
  • • Apoel Nicosia had 2 yellow cards: Savvas Gentsoglou and R. Bezjak
  • • Substitutions: S. Dest for Razvan Marin, Andrija Pavlović for L. Hallenius, A. Jakoliš for R. Bezjak, David Neres for K. Huntelaar, and Joãozinho for A. Vidigal

Lineups

Apoel Nicosia

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 27 V. Belec (G)
  • 30 G. Merkis (D)
  • 23 Joãozinho (D)
  • 44 N. Ioannou (D)
  • 91 D. Mihajlovic (D)
  • 6 S. Gentsoglou (M)
  • 14 U. Matić (F)
  • 8 Lucas Souza (M)
  • 11 Moussa Al Tamari (M)
  • 89 R. Bezjak (M)
  • 20 A. Pavlović (F)

Substitutes

  • 9 L. Hallenius
  • 17 A. Jakoliš
  • 71 André Vidigal
  • 46 E. Aloneftis
  • 99 B. Waterman
  • 13 K. Lafrance
  • 10 T. De Vincenti

Ajax

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 24 A. Onana (G)
  • 17 D. Blind (M)
  • 31 N. Tagliafico (D)
  • 3 J. Veltman (D)
  • 12 N. Mazraoui (D)
  • 21 L. Martínez (D)
  • 22 H. Ziyech (M)
  • 18 R. Marin (M)
  • 6 D. van de Beek (M)
  • 10 D. Tadić (F)
  • 7 David Neres (M)

Substitutes

  • 28 S. Dest
  • 9 K. Huntelaar
  • 27 N. Lang
  • 4 E. Álvarez
  • 2 P. Schuurs
  • 1 Bruno Varela
  • 30 D. de Wit

Timeline

  1. Ajax
    16' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    N. Mazraoui
  2. Ajax
    18' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Razvan Marin
  3. Ajax
    22' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Joël Veltman
  4. Apoel Nicosia
    37' Apoel Nicosia Card · Yellow Card
    Savvas Gentsoglou
  5. Apoel Nicosia
    48' Apoel Nicosia Card · Yellow Card
    R. Bezjak
  6. Ajax
    57' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Lisandro Martínez
  7. Ajax
    62' Ajax subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Razvan Marin · On: S. Dest
  8. Apoel Nicosia
    68' Apoel Nicosia subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Andrija Pavlović · On: L. Hallenius
  9. Apoel Nicosia
    68' Apoel Nicosia subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Bezjak · On: A. Jakoliš
  10. Ajax
    72' Ajax subst · Substitution 2
    Off: David Neres · On: K. Huntelaar
  11. Ajax
    75' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    N. Tagliafico
  12. Ajax
    80' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    N. Mazraoui
  13. Ajax
    80' Ajax Card · Red Card
    N. Mazraoui
  14. Apoel Nicosia
    82' Apoel Nicosia subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Joãozinho · On: A. Vidigal
  15. Ajax
    84' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    D. Tadić

Match Stats

Stat Apoel Nicosia Ajax
Fouls 9 16
Pass Accuracy 58% 85%
Offsides 2 1
Red Cards 0 1
Total Shots 11 19
Corners 8 8
Total Passes 224 577
Yellow Cards 2 7
Blocked Shots 1 8
Shots on Target 3 6
Shots off Target 7 5
Possession 28% 72%
Accurate Passes 131 492
Shots Inside Box 6 9
Saves 5 3
Shots Outside Box 5 10

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The match took a dramatic turn at the 80th minute when N. Mazraoui received a red card, reducing Ajax to ten men and altering the momentum of the game.
  • ▸ Apoel Nicosia capitalized on the numerical advantage but failed to convert it into a goal, maintaining the 0-0 draw.