UCL Preview: Real Madrid favourites vs Ajax; Spurs ready to overcome Dortmund

Before we hear that famous Champions League anthem later today (2019-03-05), let's find out how Real Madrid, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham prepare for the Round of 16 second leg.

Real Madrid vs Ajax

First Leg Result: Ajax 1-2 Real Madrid: Asensio grabs late UCL winner after VAR controversy

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Probable Lineups:

Missing Players:

Real Madrid: Sergio Ramos (suspended), Marcos Llorente (injured & doubtful)

Ajax: Carel Eiting (injured & out), Lisandro Magallan (injured & out)

Real Madrid Team News:

Real Madrid will have to make do without Sergio Ramos, who was retrospectively handed an extra game to his suspension for picking up a yellow card in the reverse fixture.

Nacho will replace his compatriot at the back having missed out on the clasico at the weekend due to a ban of his own, while Marcos Llorente remains a doubt.

Toni Kroos was substituted early in the second half against Barcelona, while Gareth Bale was also hooked soon after and both could see their places come under threat.

Ajax Team News:

Ajax should be well rested for the trip to Madrid having not played at the weekend and are likely to name the same side that earned a convincing win over rivals Feyenoord in the cup last week.

The visitors have as many of six players that are one booking away from a suspension should they upset the odds and progress to the quarter-finals, including key men Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech.

Focus:

Santiago Solari is clearly focused on promoting the youth players at Real Madrid so we could see some big decisions made, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos both coming in for criticism of late.

Ajax will take heart from their performance in the first leg and won't be scared to impose themselves on the reigning champions given that they must score at least twice at the Bernabeu.

Expect the Dutch giants to cause real problems but the hosts to do enough in order to progress.

WhoScored Prediction:

Real Madrid 2-1 Ajax

Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham

First Leg Result: Tottenham 3-0 Dortmund: Sonny & Vertonghen shine as Spurs leave BVB in the hole

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Probable Lineups:

Missing Players:

Dortmund: Lukasz Piszczek (injured & out)

Tottenham: Eric Dier (unfit & doubtful), Dele Alli (unfit & doubtful), Harry Winks (injured & doubtful)

Dortmund Team News:

Dortmund welcomed Marco Reus back into the first team following injury but his return didn't have the desired effect as Lucien Favre's side suffered a shock defeat to Augsburg.

Lukasz Piszczek is the only likely absentee for the home side, who know that they must go for broke to overcome a 3-goal deficit from the first leg.

Paco Alcacer scored from the bench at the weekend and could return to the side, with Jacob Bruun Larsen likely to drop out.

Favre could recall Raphael Guerreiro at left-back as a more attacking option than Abdou Diallo, who may instead replace Dan-Axel Zagadou in the middle.

Tottenham Team News:

Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to have at least one of his sidelined midfielders back available after Victor Wanyama struggled with the pace of the game against Arsenal at the weekend.

Dele Alli is set to continue to miss out due to a thigh problem, though Harry Winks - a late withdrawal with a hip injury at the weekend - and Eric Dier - recovering from tonsilitis - have travelled to Germany.

Serge Aurier could get the nod over Kieran Trippier, while Mauricio Pochettino must decide whether or not to revert to the tactic from the first leg, which saw Jan Vertonghen start at left wing-back in a bid to combat Jadon Sancho's threat.

Toby Alderweireld, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-Min are all one booking away from a suspension should they progress to the quarter-finals.

Focus:

Both of these sides are in poor patches of form, though Tottenham hold a huge advantage from the first leg.

Borussia Dortmund are rapidly relinquishing their lead in the Bundesliga and may actually benefit from having one less distraction in their bid to regain the title.

Tottenham should sit relatively deep and attempt to hit their hosts on the counter, so Son Heung-Min could have an important role to play once more and you'd back the visitors to get the away goal that should kill off this tie.

WhoScored Prediction:

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Tottenham