It is hard to believe that when FC Barcelona host AFC Ajax in Wednesday's UEFA Champion League Group H curtain-raiser, it will be the first meeting between two clubs with a rich history in European competition.

They have plenty of shared connections though, especially in the legendary figure of Johan Cruyff, who swapped Ajax for Barcelona in 1973 after claiming three straight European Champion Clubs' Cups during nine trophy-laden years in Amsterdam. He soon became the darling of the Camp Nou, hitting 48 goals in 143 games and helping the Blaugrana clinch their first Spanish title in 14 years in 1974.

A three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, Cruyff turned his hand to coaching and took over at Ajax in 1985 where he lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup. Another old flame beckoned three years later as he returned to Barcelona, steering them to their maiden European Cup in 1992, with ex-Ajax defender Ronald Koeman netting the winner against UC Sampdoria in the Wembley showpiece.

Barça collected four consecutive Liga championships under Cruyff between 1991 and 1994 – during which time midfielder Richard Witschge and Cruyff's son Jordi brought an extra Dutch flavour to Catalonia.

Louis van Gaal, a UEFA Champions League winner as Ajax boss in 1995, took the reins from Sir Bobby Robson in 1997. A strong influx of his compatriots – including Winston Bogarde, Michael Reiziger, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and the De Boer twins – subsequently helped Barcelona to two Spanish titles and UEFA Super Cup success in 1997.

Former Netherlands centre-back Frank Rijkaard, who finished his playing days with Ajax, became the next Dutchman to fill the Camp Nou hot seat in 2003. Edgar Davids arrived on loan from Juventus the following campaign before Barcelona captured European club football's most prized trophy in 2006. More recently, defender Maxwell and forward Zlatan Ibrahimović have made the switch from Ajax, yet only a handful of players have headed in the opposite direction.

Michael Laudrup linked up with Ajax for the 1997/98 season, three years after leaving Barcelona. Midfielder Roger García also played out his career at the Amsterdam ArenA, as did versatile defender Oleguer Presas. Last term, loanee Isaac Cuenca reinforced Frank de Boer's team and he was joined in July by latest recruit Bojan Krkić, who burst onto the Barcelona scene as a teenager in 2007.

Meanwhile, the only man to have played for and coached both sides, Johan Cruyff, is savouring a historic occasion. "It is great for football that these teams are playing. Barcelona are a great side and play nice football. Ajax are eager to do the same, but Barcelona have more experience. The clubs share a nice history," he said.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1993726.html?rss=1993726+the+illustrious+connections+of+barcelona+and+ajax

The fuss and media buzz surrounding Neymar’s arrival may have petered out a long time ago, but the magic he brings to the field of play is not yet in doubt.

Neymar will be taking his Champions League bow on
Wednesday when Barcelona take on Ajax at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian wonder kid will be filing out alongside the 4-time World Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andreas Iniesta, but the
spotlight and all the media attention will be on him. Every move he makes will be scrutinized and every mistake he makes will be lashed on.
How well he is able to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him will be an indication of how prepared he
is to make the step-up from South American football to the global stage.

But, Neymar is not the only Barca man that will be making his debut on Wednesday. Barcelona is one of the several top teams that will be going into this season’s competition with a new man at the helm of affairs. “Tata” Martino was the man that replaced Tito Villanova in the summer and he will be coaching in the Champions League for the first time. Incredibly, midweek’s match will be the first meeting between these two European giants in their
storied history; they’ve never met before in a competitive fixture.

http://observerreports.com/2013/09/2013-14-uefa-champions-league-gets-underway-7-teams-to-follow-closely/

Forza Barca!

Wow! Won't miss this game . . .

lets go ajax we can do it

If u believe BARCELONA will win click LIKE

Like dis post if u ar a Barcelona Fan...........

IF U BELIEVE BARCELONA WILL WIN CLICK LIKE

If u believe AJax will win Click Like

If u believe DAT it will b a draw click Like

Barca all the way!!!

I hope messi scores two braces today...@kittykollinxx on twitter

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FT Barcelona 1-1 Ajax.Ajax will score early and park the bus, but barcelona will get a last minute goal.

Na END TIME TINS,if ajax beat barca o

siddiq202: Like this post if you think Ajax will win

enemy of progress,wnt or didnt ur own club win?

Barca 5 Ajax 1

barca has already won

My darling Barcelona will Ɲǿț fail me today at all....Barca forever no matter what !

Barca all d way!!! Messi hatrick- neymar brace....full time 5-0...VIVA BARCA!!

įƒ į węŗę ţo ŗęįŋçāŗŋāţę āƒţęŗ my dęāţђ... į wįll şţįll opţ ţo bę ā bāŗçęloŋā ƒāŋ... ţђę oŋly çlųb wįţђ ā ųŋįque pђįloşopђy oƒ ƒooţbāll... ājāҳ į'm şoŗŗy bųţ bāŗçęloŋā āįŋ'ţ ŋo māţçђ ƒoŗ yā..... ƒoŗzā bāŗça

Make i book seat down

numba 24

game on!

who dey here na



oya make una dey seat down one by one...


na first come first serve oooo

Na goal les game oooo

Cabme: Na goal les game oooo

sure?

I see no changes

hornipipe: Where are they??

coming