Ajax could be on the end of a Bayern Munich backlash when the Dutch roll into town on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Tuesday (kick-off 9pm CEST/8pm BST/3pm ET).
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The Reds have endured a patchy pair of results in their previous two matches, following up a disappointing home draw with Augsburg with a 2-0 loss at Hertha Berlin in the capital on Friday night. A change of scenery should do the champions some good, however, and their formidable home record of 12 consecutive group stage wins makes them strong favourites here. Coach Niko Kovac will be without long-term absentees Corentin Tolisso (knee) and Rafinha (ankle), while Kingsley Coman and Leon Goretzka are still recovering from ankle problems of their own. Renato Sanches, back in the team and on the scoresheet against Benfica on Matchday 1, could retain his place in midfield, though Thomas Müller will be pushing for a recall.
Ajax bounced back from a 3-0 loss in their top-of-the-table clash against PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 6 with a 2-0 win away at Fortuna Sittard at the weekend, and Erik ten Hag's side will be buoyed by their 3-0 victory over AEK Athens on Matchday 1. Club captain Joel Veltman misses out with a cruciate ligament injury and highly-rated midfielder Frenkie de Jong is a doubt with a calf problem, but star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a face well-known to Bundesliga audiences from his time at Schalke, is available having already plundered 10 goals in 14 matches this term.
Probable line-ups:
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba - Thiago, Sanches - Robben, James, Ribery - Lewandowski
Absentees: Coman (ankle), Goretzka (ankle), Rafinha (ankle), Tolisso (knee)
Coach: Niko Kovac
Ajax: Onana - Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico - Eiting, Schöne, Ziyech - Tadic (c), Huntelaar, Neres
Absentees: Veltman (knee), Sinkgraven (knee), De Jong (calf), Bande (calf)
Coach: Erik ten Hag
Match stats
This encounter pits against one another two of Europe's most successful clubs. Bayern have won the European Cup and/or Champions League five times (1974-76, 2001, 2013) while Ajax have achieved the feat four times (1971-73, 1995).
Bayern have won each of their last 12 home matches in the Champions League group stage.
Huntelaar scored 126 goals for Schalke between 2010 and 2017, including 82 in the Bundesliga.
However, the 35-year-old has never scored against Bayern and lost seven of his eight appearances against them for the Royal Blues.
The clubs have a dead even head-to-head record, with three wins apiece and two draws from their eight previous meetings.
Ajax boss ten Hag was coach of Bayern's reserve side between 2013 and 2015.