Ajax dumped holders Real Madrid out of the Champions League courtesy of an incredible 4-1 win at the Bernabeu in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Madrid led 2-1 from the first leg in Amsterdam, but Ajax put in a stunning performance in the Spanish capital to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the second leg of the last-16 Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Ajax from the Bernabeu. Madrid hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Amsterdam, but they will have been damaged by successive defeats to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and league respectively over the last few days. Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates!
TEAMS!
MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Reguilon; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Lucas, Benzema, Vinicius
AJAX: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Van de Beek, De Jong, Schone; Ziyech, Tadic, Neres
Sergio Ramos misses out for Madrid through suspension, meaning that there is a spot in central defence for Nacho. Lucas Vazquez, meanwhile, takes the place of Gareth Bale alongside Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema in the final third. Sergio Reguilon again gets the nod at left-back, while the midfield is unchanged as Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric all make the XI.
As for Ajax, it is the same side that started the first leg. Daley Blind will play alongside the skipper Matthijs de Ligt in central defence, while Barcelona-bound Frenkie de Jong will again operate in central midfield. Dusan Tadic's presence as the main striker means that Kasper Dolberg and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar are both on the bench. Both teams will line up in 4-3-3 formations this evening!
KICKOFF: Madrid kick things off in front of their own supporters...
... there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. The Madrid fans are in good voice, but Ajax are also well represented at the Bernabeu. Let's hope for an entertaining second leg here.
The two teams have met on 13 occasions in the European Cup. Madrid lead the head-to-head eight wins to four, with only one draw taking place. Madrid have won each of the last seven meetings between the two teams, meanwhile, but Ajax were victorious in four straight matches against the Spanish giants between April 1973 and November 1995. It is the home side with the early possession here.
Their last meeting at the Bernabeu took place in the group stages of the 2012-13 campaign and Madrid ran out 4-1 winners on the night. I would be surprised if it was that clear a result tonight, especially with Ajax arriving in good form. Madrid, meanwhile, are not exactly full of confidence.
OFF THE BAR! So close! Vazquez delivers a wonderful cross onto the head of Varane and the Frenchman's header crashes off the crossbar. Really should have scored from that position!
Losing two home Clasicos in the space of three days will have really, really hurt Madrid. First, Barca beat them 3-0 on Wednesday night to advance into the final of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate success. Then the Catalan giants recorded a 1-0 victory in La Liga on Saturday night, with Ivan Rakitic grabbing the only goal of the contest as Madrid's title hopes were all but ended.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-1 AJAX (ZIYECH)
Oh my word! Ajax make the breakthrough in the seventh minute of this second leg as Ziyech collects a pass from Tadic before finding the bottom corner with a super finish. Kroos had presented Tadic with the ball and the Dutch giants are level at 2-2 in this last-16 tie!
SAVE! Routine save for Onana to keep out a low strike from Vinicius!
With the Copa del Rey and La Liga both gone, all of Madrid's eggs are once again in the Champions League basket. Luckily they do have just a bit of history in this competition, but it is difficult to imagine this team landing the trophy this term. They have to concentrate on getting though tonight first!
Madrid have won the last three editions of the Champions League and have been victorious in their last nine two-legged knockout ties in the competition, which is a quite staggering record. Meanwhile, this is their 23rd Champions League campaign and indeed the 23rd time that they have reached the knockout stage. The 13-time champions have also been semi-finalists or better in each of the last eight seasons. As it stands, they are still ahead on away goals, but Ajax seem to really, really fancy it tonight.
It is worth remembering that Santiago Solari's side suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Girona in the league before the back-to-back games with Barca. As a result, they have lost their last three in front of their own supporters, who are incredibly frustrated with what they have seen from their team this season. Both sides are having decent spells of possession here with 16 minutes on the clock.
Madrid have won their last five home matches against Dutch opposition, though, and have still lost only six of their last 40 European matches. What's more, the Spanish giants have lost just one of the 34 UEFA competition ties where they won the first leg away from home. It couldn't happen, could it?!
Benzema attempts to release Vinicius inside the Ajax box, but De Ligt is across to make the challenge. The visitors then deal with the corner before launching another break through Neres.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-2 AJAX (NERES)
Oh my goodness me! Ajax! The visitors now lead on aggregate as Neres collects a super pass from Tadic before rounding Courtois and finding the back of the net. Incredible moment here!
This is actually the first time that Ajax have been present in the last-16 stage of the Champions League since the 2005-06 campaign. Not since the 2002-03 season, meanwhile, have the Dutch giants reached the quarter-finals of this prestigious competition. Madrid need a response here!
CLOSE! Neres just lifts wide of the far post after breaking into a dangerous position!
SAVE! Smart save from Onana to keep out an effort from Vinicius!
SAVE! Courtois has to make a smart stop to keep out an effort from Tadic.
YELLOW CARD! Mazraoui (Ajax) is booked for a foul on Lucas.
Madrid are on the front foot at the moment as they look to work the ball into a dangerous position, but De Ligt comes across on a couple of occasions to clear. Bale is about to come on here!
REAL MADRID SUB! Bale replaces Vazquez, who is limping off injured.
Ajax have incredibly scored 82 times in 23 league matches this season, while they netted 11 times in the group stage of the Champions League. In all honesty, Ten Hag's team should have netted more than once in first leg, but already have two goals at the Bernabeu tonight.
YELLOW CARD! Carvajal (Madrid) is booked for hacking Neres.
SHOT! Vinicius misses the post with an effort from a wide angle.
Vinicius might have pulled something while having that shot. He is down injured!
Vinicius is distraught and will not be able to continue. Another huge blow for Madrid.
SAVE! Smart save from Courtois to keep out a strike from Ziyech!
REAL MADRID SUB! Asensio replaces the injured Vinicius.
Bale delivers deep towards Benzema, but Tagliafico does really well to make the clearance under his own crossbar. Better from Madrid, but they are still so open in a defensive area here.
Ajax do have previous when it comes to winning a Champions League tie having lost the home first leg.. Indeed, they achieved that feat against Greek outfit Panathinaikos in the semi-finals of the 1995-96 competition, losing 1-0 on home soil before winning the away leg 3-0.
With the Copa del Rey and La Liga both gone, all of Madrid's eggs are once again in the Champions League basket. Where would the Spanish giants go with a defeat tonight? Solari would have to leave.
OFF THE POST! Bale hits the frame of the goal after breaking into the Ajax box!
I would be absolutely astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match. It simply will not finish 2-0 as Madrid need to score. Ajax are not exactly sitting back, meanwhile, as they chase a third, which would be absolutely huge. What a first 44 minutes of football at the Bernabeu.
Ajax will have to defend a corner as we enter two minutes of additional time here.
CLOSE! Nacho heads Kroos's corner wide of the Ajax post.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 0-2 AJAX (AJAX LEAD 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Ajax leading 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate courtesy of goals from Ziyech and Neres. What a half of football. Madrid have had their moments, but could have quite easily conceded a third or fourth at the Bernabeu.
STATISTICS! Madrid shaded the first-half possession with 55%, while they had three shots on target from 10 attempts. Ajax managed seven attempts, with four of those hitting the target. Two yellow cards to report, with Mazraoui in the book for the visitors and Carvajal for the reigning champions.
BENCH WATCH! Ajax have not exactly been short of attacking intent tonight, but both Dolberg and Huntelaar are on the bench for the visitors. Madrid, meanwhile, have already been forced into two changes with Bale and Asensio replacing the injured Lucas and Vinicius. Solari only has one more move and Ceballos, Marcelo, Vallejo and Valverde are the players available for the Spanish giants.
KICKOFF: Ajax resume the action here...
... Madrid have to score; it is as simple as that. A goal for Madrid levels it up, but another for Ajax would place the Dutch giants in a seriously good position. Stay tuned for the action!
Madrid have been semi-finalists or better in each of the last eight seasons, but face a task to make the quarter-finals tonight. Quite a controlled start to the second period from Ajax.
As expected, Madrid are on the front foot at the moment. Modric has just danced into a shooting position, but De Jong was on hand to make a fine block. What a player, De Jong. Wonderful.
CLOSE! Asensio just misses the far post with a curling effort!
CLOSE! Benzema misses the crossbar with an effort from inside the box.
SAVE! Smart save from Courtois to keep out a low strike from Van de Beek!
CLOSE! Ziyech sees his strike deflected wide of the post, but the offside flag had been raised.
Benzema forces Bale too wide and Ajax manage to clear as the end-to-end period of the match continues. The atmosphere inside the Bernabeu is absolutely wonderful, it must be said.
Possession football from Ajax at the moment as they look to work a shooting position. Some of the football from the visitors has been wonderful, with Blind sensational at the back.
Little over 30 minutes of normal time remaining and Madrid just have to score. Ajax are still carrying such a threat on the break, though, and a third for the away side would be absolutely massive.
It is worth remembering that Santiago Solari's side suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Girona in the league before the back-to-back games with Barca. As a result, they have lost their last three in front of their own supporters - is that about to become four? Some story developing here.
CLOSE! Benzema just misses the far post with a curling effort!
CLOSE! Mazraoui hits the side-netting after breaking forward for the away side.
GOAL! GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-3 AJAX (TADIC)
Oh my goodness! Extraordinary! Ajax 3-0! Tadic has just picked out the top corner with an absolute stunner of a goal. Southampton fans will be wondering what on earth is happening here!
VAR are having a look to see whether the ball crossed the line earlier in the move!
This is taking a very long time!
Goal stands! VAR have had a look. Quite a delay. Goal is given!
SAVE! Smart save from Onana to keep out a strike from Bale!
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-3 AJAX (ASENSIO)
There is one! Asensio finds the bottom corner with a low strike from the edge of the box!
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-4 AJAX (SCHONE)
Four-one. Four-one to Ajax. The Dutch giants end this tie as Schone's deep free kick drifts over Courtois and lands in the back of the net. That is game, set and match. Madrid are out!
AJAX SUBS! De Wit and Dolberg replace Schone and Neres here.
Madrid are doing their best to score again, but Ajax are comfortable at the moment.
Ajax have a corner and want more goals as we head for the final 10 minutes. The stadium has been stunned into silence as the Dutch giants search for a fifth in the Spanish capital.
AJAX SUB! Veltman replaces Mazraoui in Ajax's final change.
Not an awful lot happening at the moment aside from the odd foul here and there.
SAVE! Excellent save from Onana to keep out a close-range Bale effort!
CHANCE! Huge chance for Ajax, but Ziyech fires Tadic's cross over from close range!
REAL MADRID SUB! Valverde replaces Casemiro for the home side.
Bale has just twisted his ankle as Madrid's night goes from bad to worse.
We are into the first of five minutes of additional time here.
Bale can hardly walk here, but looks like he will finish the match.
Bale is really, really struggling. It seems pointless him walking on it and making it worse, but that is continuing to happen. Could be another spell on the sidelines for the Wales international.
RED CARD! NACHO (REAL MADRID)
Nacho is sent off following an altercation with Van de Beek!
The seconds are ticking away in the Spanish capital.
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 1-4 AJAX (AJAX WIN 5-3 ON AGGREGATE)
Incredible! Madrid are out! Ajax advance to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 4-1 win at the Bernabeu, which brings a 5-3 aggregate success. Humiliation for the home side and that could be the end of Solari. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
