Ajax Falls to Galatasaray, Remains Pointless in Champions League

Ajax suffered yet another defeat in the Champions League, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the tournament. On a challenging night at the Johan Cruijff Arena, the team fell 0-3 to Galatasaray, with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scoring all three goals. Ajax has yet to secure any points, with a staggering fourteen goals conceded and just one goal scored throughout the group stage.

Ajax’s Struggles in the Champions League

This disastrous performance leaves Ajax at the bottom of their group, below Benfica, who also remains pointless but has a better goal differential. This defeat is particularly significant as it marks the seventh consecutive European loss for Ajax, a record the club has never experienced before.

Coaching Strategies and Team Performance

Ajax head coach John Heitinga expressed urgency for a turnaround, stating that points were essential ahead of facing the Turkish side. Despite this, the team was unable to deliver. Following previous defeats to Internazionale, Olympique Marseille, and Chelsea, Ajax struggled once again against Galatasaray.

Heitinga attempted a new approach, introducing Youri Regeer as a right winger and placing Oscar Gloukh behind strikers Wout Weghorst and Mika Godts to bolster the midfield. However, Galatasaray, who lead the Turkish league, maintained control and demonstrated superior quality.

Match Highlights

Galatasaray’s strategy quickly unfolded with Leroy Sané, Davinson Sánchez, and Lucas Torreira showcasing their skills. Despite Ajax managing to hold the score at 0-0 for approximately 30 minutes, they failed to capitalize on their few chances. Gloukh occasionally presented flashes of potential, notably a clever pass to Godts, but it didn’t translate into goals.

• Victor Osimhen’s first goal came from a cross by Sané, giving Galatasaray a 1-0 lead.
• A penalty was awarded for a handball by Ajax’s Youri Baas, and Osimhen converted, making it 2-0.
• Osimhen completed his hat-trick with another penalty after a handball by Gerard Alders, finalizing the score at 3-0.

In an attempt to salvage some pride, Ajax pressed forward but could not convert their efforts into goals. They were further denied by a late opportunity when Mauro Icardi’s shot hit the post. Ajax’s next chance to earn their first Champions League points will come in three weeks, when they face Benfica in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash.