Tottenham Hotspur v Ajax: Champions League semi-final, first leg – live!

Pre-match video entertainment pt. II. Pochettino has suggested that Ajax have an unfair advantage tonight, given they’ve had a week off to prepare, while Spurs had to play West Ham at the weekend. His opposite number Erik ten Hag isn’t having it.

Pre-match video entertainment pt I. Here’s Mauricio Pochettino “living his dream” while Lucas Moura channels his inner Sister Sledge by suggesting Spurs will play “like a family” tonight.

In terms of European trophies, Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax have the upper hand over Tottenham Hotspur. Their four European Cups, one Uefa Cup, one Cup Winners Cup and two Super Cups beats two Uefa Cups and one Cup Winners Cup conclusively. But in the head-to-head, it’s Spurs who have the advantage. And how!

These two clubs have run into each other just once on the continent. That was in the first round of the 1981-82 Cup Winners Cup. In the first leg in Amsterdam, Glenn Hoddle, Mark Falco and Ricardo Villa scored the goals in a 3-1 win, Ajax’s sole strike courtesy of Søren Lerby. Falco scored again in the second leg, Tony Galvin and Ossie Ardiles with the others in a comfortable 3-0 win at White Hart Lane. A 6-1 aggregate victory that will give those who believe in historical precedent succour.

And make no mistake, history will be driving both of these clubs on. Ajax are hoping to repeat their trick of 1995, when a team packed solid with youthful talent, augmented by a couple of wise old heads, won the Champions League. Spurs meanwhile would rather like to go one step further than their 1962 vintage of Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay and Jimmy Greaves, and make the final of Europe’s premier competition.

Ajax are well worthy of their semi-final spot, having seen off Real Madrid and Juventus to get here. They’re one of the best teams in Europe. But then again, you can say all of that about Spurs, too, who got past the much-fancied pair of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in the knockouts, having escaped Houdini-style from the groups, minutes away from elimination before Harry Kane turned the whole campaign round against PSV. So here we are. Two of the finest teams around. Two matches from Madrid. It’s on!

Kick off: 8pm local time, 9pm in Amsterdam.