Ajax Amsterdam vs Barcelona preview - Suarez set to face former side Ajax

Posted Tuesday, November 04, 2014 by PA

Luis Suarez is set to make his Champions League debut for Barcelona when he returns to the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday night as the Spanish giants take on Ajax in Group F.

The 27-year-old former Ajax frontman spent three-and-a-half successful years in Amsterdam - twice winning the club's player of the year award - before making the move to Liverpool in 2011, scoring 111 goals in the process and helping them to two runners-up finishes in the Eredivisie.

Suarez, who joined Barca this summer for a fee in the region of B£75million, has been named in Luis Enrique's 20-man squad for the European encounter after making his delayed start for the Catalan giants - due to suspension for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup.

The Uruguay international, who made his debut in the loss to Real Madrid on October 25, is yet to open his scoring account for the Primera Division club but will be gunning to get on the scoresheet at his former home as Barca aim to bounce back from Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo.

Also named in the squad is Gerard Pique, who returns after missing the weekend defeat due to what Luis Enrique said were "technical reasons", while fellow defender Jeremy Mathieu is sidelined after suffering a right calf muscle injury which will keep him out until the international break.

In the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago, Barcelona recorded a 3-1 victory and although Sergio Busquets is aware of the threat Ajax possess at their home stadium, he is confident his side can get back on track following their two-match losing streak in the league.

He told www.fcbarcelona.com: "When you lose you have to improve because there are clearly things you're not getting quite right. We are always self-critical, whether we win or lose.

"We have keep working to improve, there's nothing else we can do. Hopefully we can put an end to this poor run."

Last season the Spaniards went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Ajax in Amsterdam, and Busquets added: "They came out strong and were all over us at the start of the game.

"With the sending off (Ajax's Joel Veltman) and our goal, everything changed. I hope it doesn't happen again."

Barca will qualify for the last 16 if they bring three points home and APOEL fail to beat Group F leaders Paris St Germain, while Ajax need at least one point to retain any real hope of qualifying, a fact that coach Frank de Boer knows only too well.

Ajax head into the match on the back of two comfortable league victories and De Boer knows their opponents deserve respect but urged his side not to fear Barcelona.

He told De Telegraaf: "We need to disturb as a team. We have to give them no air to breathe.

"Two weeks ago we really had too much fear of Barcelona. Respect is allowed, but fear - of course - is not. I would therefore also like to see passion and confidence.

"Of course they have a lot of quality, but against good teams you get space. We should use that space well. Then there are opportunities."

Denmark defender Nicolai Boilesen returns for the home side after missing the second half of Saturday's 4-0 win over Dordrecht with a stomach upset, while midfielder Thulani Serero continues his comeback following a muscle injury.