UEFA Champions League 2021/22: Why Ajax were able to dominate Dortmund in four goal thrashing – tactical analysis

On Tuesday evening in the Champions League, Ajax took on Borussia Dortmund in a group game. At the time of the game, both teams had 100% records having both beaten Besiktas and Sporting. Whilst Ajax enjoyed the home advantage it was surprising to see them come away with such an emphatic win and statement as they put four past Borussia Dortmund, with no reply from the visitors. This tactical analysis will break down the tactics used by Ajax to beat Dortmund so comprehensively on the evening. This analysis will also highlight some of Dortmund’s own failings.

Line-ups and formations

Ajax unsurprisingly lined up in a 4-3-3 with Daley Blind, Lisandro Martinez, Jurrein Timber and Noussair Mazraoui making up the back four. Whilst the image below shows Edson Alvarez operating as a single pivot, and Ryan Gravenberch playing as a double 8 with Steven Berghuis, in reality, Berghuis play significantly higher than the other two, with Gravenberch making a double pivot with Alvarez for much of the game. Ajax’s front three was made up of Dusan Tadic, Antony, and Sebastien Haller as the focal point through the middle. Remko Pasveer started in goal. 

Dortmund mirrored Ajax’s formation, at least on paper, with a 4-3-3 themselves. Nico Schulz continued at left-back after playing the previous weekend against Mainz, whilst Mats Hummels, Manuel Akanji and Thomas Meunier comprised the rest of the back four. Axel Witsel played as the single pivot with Jude Bellingham and Julian Brandt in front of him. Donyell Malen, Marco Reus and Erling Haaland gave Dortmund a front three, whilst Gregor Kobel started in goal.

Stretching Dortmund’s defence

Ajax continuously looked to have an extra runner from midfield push forward from midfield to cause problems for Dortmund’s stretched defence. Ajax looked to match up the centre-backs against two of their front three, whilst the spare attacker would stay high and very wide on the opposite flank. Whilst Dortmund’s two centre-backs would get tight with the attackers, it left Schulz vulnerable, who felt he had to stay wider than perhaps he would have liked due to the attacking presence outside of him. This left space in between for a midfielder, most often Berghuis, to move into.