Ajax: Cillessen; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander,
Boilesen (Poulsen 34'); Klaassen, Blind, Serero; Schöne (Denswil 51'),
Hoesen (Duarte 84'), Fischer. 4-3-3.
Barcelona: Pinto;
Puyol (Patric 68'), Mascherano, Pique, Montoya; Xavi (Sergi Roberto 74'), Alex
Song, Iniesta; Pedro, Fàbregas (Adama Traoré 82'), Neymar. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 19. Serero. Got on the end of Van Rhijn cross to
fire low shot past Pinto.
2-0. 41. Hoesen. Picked up loose ball in area and
turned shot in off Piqué.
2-1. 49. Xavi (penalty). After Neymar
brought down by Veltman inside the area.
A depleted Barcelona suffered their first official defeat in the Tata Martino era, losing 2-1 to ten man Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena on Tuesday evening. Serero got on the end of a Van Rhijn cross to open the scoring for the locals with just under twenty minutes gone, and although Neymar went close a few minutes later, the Dutch side went further ahead after Pinto could only block a shot from Fischer, Hoesen reacting quicker than anyone to control the rebound and turn in a shot which deflected in to the net off Piqué. Xavi got one back from the penalty spot after Veltman was sent off for a foul on Neymar early in the second half, but the locals held on for a win which keeps them in with a chance of a place in the next round. Barcelona stay two points clear at the top of the group though, and whatever happens in their last game at home to the already eliminated Celtic, they are sure of one of the two qualifying spots for the knock-out stage.