Real Madrid vs Ajax. UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance77,013.
3-5
Tuesday 5 March 2019 19:12, UK
Sergio Ramos will be suspended for Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Ajax on Tuesday (kick-off 8pm) as he serves the first of a two-match ban.
The Real Madrid captain picked up an 89th-minute booking in the first leg - which the current holders won 2-1 in Amsterdam - with suspicions that he had done so deliberately to miss the next game at the Bernabeu.
While Ramos has protested his innocence, UEFA handed him a two-game ban for "clearly receiving a yellow card on purpose", although manager Santiago Solari says his side have enough experience to cope without him.
"I'm sad that he won't play tomorrow's game. As you all know, he's a very important player for us, he's a leader," Solari said.
"We have players with experience and quality enough to replace him. Besides, Sergio's personality is imbued in the team, and he'll come with us, he'll be with us. Regarding the decision, I will not give my opinion."
Aside from Ramos' suspension, Real Madrid have no other major injury concerns ahead of the game.
For Ajax, centre-back Lisandro Magallan and midfielder Carel Eiting are likely to be missing as they were in the first leg.
Real are a very unpredictable beast at the moment. They can win the Madrid derby, but then put to the sword twice in a week against Barcelona.
Ajax are a decent side, they like to attack and it's nice to see them back in the upper echelons of European football. But there's no way they're going through. Real will do enough, they're unconvincing but I think they'll pick them off.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (11/1 with Sky Bet)