Ajax are two goals up before the break, and Tottenham with no goals to show for all their efforts in the first half.

The Eredivisie leaders didn’t dominate the entire first 45 minutes, but the periods in which they were in the ascendency were a joy to behold.

Goals from Matthijs De Ligt and Hakim Ziyech put them well in control of this tie, and they have one foot already in the final.

De Ligt scored the first goal in the 5th minute of the match when rose above Alli on the penalty spot and planted a header to Lloris’s right and in! Easy as that! A brief check with VAR, as Vertonghen might have been wrestled to the ground by van de Beek, but it’s correctly deemed fair.

The second goal came in the 35th minute. Tadic beat Trippier to a ball in the midfield, wafting a leg near his face. Van de Beek glided down the inside left, then slipped the ball wide to Tadic, who cut back for Ziyech.

The Morroco international sent a rising screamer across Lloris and into the top right. A sensational strike, and Spurs are in all sorts of trouble now.

Tottenham have been poor, but against this rampant young Ajax team, buoyed on by their equally voracious support, it is hard to guarantee that they would have fared much better even if they were at their best.

Ten Hag will know that Ajax have their destiny well within their own hands, with Tottenham needing to score three to go through.

Pochettino, meanwhile, must look to find some positives from that opening 45 minutes if Spurs are to somehow claw their way back into contention – although given Liverpool’s comeback yesterday, you cannot rule that out!

Spurs require three second-half goals if they’re to make it to Madrid. It’s a hell of an ask. But as Liverpool proved last night, a quickfire one-two can change everything. No point in giving up hope now.

Photo Credit: ajax.nl