Ajax will make a long-awaited return to the knockout stages of the Champions League when they welcome Real Madrid to the Johan Cruyff Arena tonight.
The four-times winners, and one of the most illustrious names in European football, have not reached the last 16 since the 2005/06 season, 13 years ago.
Their best European performance in the interim period saw them reach the Europa League final in 2017, losing 2-0 to Manchester United.
However, they are now back in the big time, after an encouraging group stage performance that saw them finish second behind Bayern Munich, and going toe-to-toe with the German giants in two memorable draws.
Key to their hopes against Madrid will be the highly-rated young duo Frenkie de Jong and Matthias De Ligt.
21-year-old De Jong has already agreed to join Madrid's biggest rivals Barcelona in the summer, while centre back De Ligt, two year's De Jong's junior, is perhaps the most sought after defensive prospect in Europe.
Further forward, Morrocan attacker Hakim Ziyech and former Southampton man Dusan Tadic have 25 league goals and 15 assists between them, while a familiar face leads the line - Dutch striker Klass Jan Huntelaar, in his second spell at the club.
