Zürcher Nachrichten - Ajax 'one of the best teams', but Benfica's Verissimo sees 'weaknesses'

EUR -
AED 4.127425
AFN 79.221816
ALL 98.719773
AMD 436.096178
ANG 2.011113
AOA 1030.458576
ARS 1264.216617
AUD 1.731721
AWG 2.02552
AZN 1.913303
BAM 1.978295
BBD 2.267919
BDT 136.471842
BGN 1.960051
BHD 0.423541
BIF 3299.265644
BMD 1.123728
BND 1.466091
BOB 7.761359
BRL 6.308047
BSD 1.123288
BTN 95.811769
BWP 15.334093
BYN 3.675949
BYR 22025.070373
BZD 2.256266
CAD 1.563252
CDF 3226.223216
CHF 0.939459
CLF 0.027541
CLP 1056.866107
CNY 8.097978
CNH 8.089881
COP 4732.861742
CRC 570.798252
CUC 1.123728
CUP 29.778794
CVE 111.389579
CZK 24.934387
DJF 199.708983
DKK 7.459672
DOP 66.187401
DZD 149.654717
EGP 56.650612
ERN 16.855921
ETB 149.564786
FJD 2.53671
FKP 0.846333
GBP 0.842077
GEL 3.079374
GGP 0.846333
GHS 14.299431
GIP 0.846333
GMD 80.907899
GNF 9725.866387
GTQ 8.636204
GYD 234.998015
HKD 8.766377
HNL 28.958707
HRK 7.533585
HTG 146.86195
HUF 404.243759
IDR 18586.350075
ILS 4.002946
IMP 0.846333
INR 95.894688
IQD 1472.083785
IRR 47308.95239
ISK 145.713905
JEP 0.846333
JMD 178.944808
JOD 0.797173
JPY 164.323932
KES 145.24132
KGS 98.270188
KHR 4516.262872
KMF 495.005489
KPW 1011.383911
KRW 1568.982799
KWD 0.34531
KYD 0.936027
KZT 570.949652
LAK 24295.000867
LBP 100629.8496
LKR 335.677034
LRD 224.324282
LSL 20.597333
LTL 3.318076
LVL 0.679732
LYD 6.197367
MAD 10.45669
MDL 19.633911
MGA 5039.920138
MKD 61.523124
MMK 2359.135491
MNT 4020.301939
MOP 9.016468
MRU 44.500752
MUR 51.859743
MVR 17.361736
MWK 1950.79217
MXN 21.761916
MYR 4.829805
MZN 71.817273
NAD 20.597404
NGN 1801.100306
NIO 41.325094
NOK 11.566759
NPR 153.293715
NZD 1.886133
OMR 0.432641
PAB 1.123253
PEN 4.11425
PGK 4.576663
PHP 62.689433
PKR 316.610381
PLN 4.246012
PYG 8970.120318
QAR 4.090938
RON 5.104646
RSD 118.569858
RUB 90.339744
RWF 1595.693874
SAR 4.215049
SBD 9.395884
SCR 15.986822
SDG 674.793662
SEK 10.878711
SGD 1.457846
SHP 0.883074
SLE 25.565211
SLL 23564.01622
SOS 642.211833
SRD 41.016595
STD 23258.902464
SVC 9.828897
SYP 14610.380088
SZL 20.597676
THB 37.349316
TJS 11.647741
TMT 3.938667
TND 3.396467
TOP 2.631885
TRY 43.568444
TTD 7.622713
TWD 33.943891
TZS 3029.012918
UAH 46.680838
UGX 4110.799388
USD 1.123728
UYU 46.91346
UZS 14535.422542
VES 104.44601
VND 29149.506402
VUV 134.990964
WST 3.133593
XAF 663.489834
XAG 0.034221
XAU 0.000347
XCD 3.036931
XDR 0.825533
XOF 646.716307
XPF 119.331742
YER 274.695652
ZAR 20.458144
ZMK 10114.896444
ZMW 29.765869
ZWL 361.839983
  • RBGPF

    0.8100

    63.81

    +1.27%

  • CMSC

    -0.1010

    21.959

    -0.46%

  • RIO

    -0.1050

    62.165

    -0.17%

  • GSK

    0.1400

    36.49

    +0.38%

  • NGG

    0.0200

    67.55

    +0.03%

  • RELX

    0.7800

    53.18

    +1.47%

  • CMSD

    -0.0480

    22.342

    -0.21%

  • BCC

    -1.1950

    92.515

    -1.29%

  • BTI

    -0.2000

    40.49

    -0.49%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0200

    10.68

    -0.19%

  • BCE

    -0.4500

    21.53

    -2.09%

  • SCS

    -0.0600

    10.65

    -0.56%

  • AZN

    -0.5900

    67.13

    -0.88%

  • JRI

    -0.0750

    12.805

    -0.59%

  • VOD

    -0.0150

    9.045

    -0.17%

  • BP

    -0.1250

    30.435

    -0.41%

Ajax 'one of the best teams', but Benfica's Verissimo sees 'weaknesses'
Ajax 'one of the best teams', but Benfica's Verissimo sees 'weaknesses'

Ajax 'one of the best teams', but Benfica's Verissimo sees 'weaknesses'

Benfica interim coach Nelson Verissimo said on Tuesday that he believes Ajax are "one of the best teams in Europe" ahead of the two sides' Champions League last-16 first leg in Lisbon.

Text size:

The Portuguese giants welcome the Dutch champions to the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday, looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016.

But Ajax won all six of their group games and only Bayern Munich had scored more goals in this season's competition heading into the knockout stages.

"We are going to face an opponent with a lot of quality," said Verissimo, who took over at Benfica until the end of the season when Jorge Jesus was sacked in December.

"Ajax are currently one of the best teams in Europe. They have strengths, but also weaknesses that we'll want to exploit.

"We know it will be difficult, but we are motivated. We have to keep possession, and also defend without the ball. Honestly, I think it's 50/50."

Benfica qualified from their group at the expense of Barcelona but have struggled since Jesus' dismissal, losing the Portuguese League Cup final to Sporting Lisbon and slipping 12 points behind league leaders Porto.

But veteran defender Jan Vertonghen believes playing in the Champions League again will be a breath of fresh air for his team.

The 34-year-old started his career at Ajax, making 220 appearances for the Amsterdam side from 2006-2012, and will be making his first appearance in the Champions League knockout stages since losing the 2019 final to Liverpool with Tottenham.

"Every weekend I watch their (Ajax's) games," said Belgian Vertonghen.

"We analysed Ajax and we know their team very well. Coach (Verissimo) has a lot of confidence in his team.

"Our last match didn't go so well (2-2 draw at Boavista), but we've played great games in the Champions League and I'm confident that Benfica will have a great game tomorrow."

Benfica and Ajax have won six European Cups between them, although the Portuguese club's last title came in 1962.

M.J.Baumann--NZN