Ajax will consider themselves unlucky not to be taking a lead to Turin next week after dominating Juventus at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
2018/2019 UEFA Champions League
1-1
Match Report
David Neres cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's header as Ajax and Juventus played out an absorbing 1-1 draw in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
Ronaldo – fit to feature after recovering from a thigh injury suffered on international duty with Portugal last month – put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time, striding into the penalty area before throwing himself at a cross to thunder a header beyond goalkeeper Andre Onana.
That lead lasted less than a minute of the second period, however, as Neres curled home his third Champions League goal of the campaign – a leveller that was the very least Erik ten Hag's side deserved for a display full of energy and attacking intent.
Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech will reflect on missed opportunities that could have given the Eredivisie side an advantage ahead of the return fixture in Italy, though Juve could have snatched an undeserved win in the closing stages when substitute Douglas Costa hit the post.
Match Events
2' CHANCE! Bernardeschi's shot over the bar
Bernardeschi charges towards the edge of the box and unleashes a powerful, swerving effort towards the top-left corner. It rises just over the top with Onana at full stretch!
18' NICE TRY! Ziyech's shot saved
Ajax overload the right flank as Neres comes across and play some really intricate football before setting up Ziyech just inside the box to curl towards the top-left corner, but Szczesny is able to palm it behind for a corner!
25' CLOSE! Van der Beek's shot wide out
All of a sudden, Ajax spring to life and carve their way in on the right. It's worked to Van de Beek in the middle, but the midfielder takes a slightly heavy touch.
He still manages to wrap his foot around it and bend it towards the top-left corner, but it flies narrowly wide! What a chance!
37' CLOSE! Bernardeschi's shot wide out
Sandro lofts the ball to the back post and Ajax can't deal with Ronaldo's physicality. He knocks it down for Bernardeschi, who swivels and shoots, but the Italian fires wide of goal from close range!
45' GOAL! Ajax 0-1 Juventus (Ronaldo)
Juventus have been growing back into the game and who else could it be but Ronaldo! Cancelo dinks a lovely ball into the box and Ronaldo ghosts in unmarked before diving to thump a header in that Onana gets a hand to, but can't keep out!
46' GOAL! Ajax 1-1 Juventus (Neres)
Neres produces a stunning solo strike moments after kick-off, drifting in from the left and curling a shot into the top-right corner past a sprawling Szczesny!
51' OFFSIDE! Neres's goal disallowed
Neres produces a stunning solo strike moments after kick-off, drifting in from the left and curling a shot into the top-right corner past a sprawling Szczesny!
52' No penalty! Bentancur pulled down in the box
A free-kick is curled cleverly in from the left and it's just ahead of Bentancur and Ronaldo before it goes behind for a goal-kick.
There's the suspicion that the Uruguayan midfielder was pulled down by Tagliafico to prevent him reaching the ball, but following a VAR check the referee waves play on.
85' CLOSE! Costa's shot hits the post
Costa's fresh legs see him skip away down the left and around Veltman with a lovely piece of skill, before charging into the box and smacking a low strike off the upright and out! Onana could only watch as the ball flew past him and came back off the far post!