Buoyed by a sequence of good results in tough matches, Santi Solari’s side will start this encounter as favourites, having negotiated a group that involved Roma, Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow.
Ajax, meanwhile, will be no pushovers, having impressed in Europe in recent seasons and with a clutch of exciting young players eager to prove themselves at the highest level.
Ajax should have a complete squad of regulars available for this encounter, with Barcelona-bound Frenkie De Jong having overcome a minor problem to make the squad.
Carel Eiting is their most notable absentee, but he is a midfielder who regularly sits on the bench.
Possible Ajax starting XI: Onana; Kristensen, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Schone, Van de Beek, De Jong; Ziyech, Huntelaar, Tadic
Real Madrid will have a strong squad available to head coach Santi Solari. Luca Zidane again sits out along with Marcos Llorente, while the rarely-used Isco is missing due to a back complaint.
Karim Benzema missed some training earlier this week but should be included in the starting XI, while Marcelo faces a fight to start ahead of Sergio Reguilon at left-back.
Sergio Ramos is in line to play his 600th game for the club.
Possible Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Vinicius.
Match Preview
Real Madrid did not play like three-time defending Champions League winners during their Group G campaign prior to Christmas. Twice Los Blancos lost to CSKA Moscow, and while they came good for the big occasion, the level of their form was largely disappointing.
There has been some improvement since then, with the greatest indications that they are picking up a head of steam arriving over the course of the last week. A trip to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey saw them deservedly earn a 1-1 draw, which was followed up by a terrific 3-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend.
Following that victory, which came about after goals from Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale, interim head coach Santi Solari talked up his team’s chances of even more European success.
Speaking to UEFA, he said: “Nothing is impossible for Real Madrid.”
Despite piecing together a seven-match undefeated run, he is aware how fickle the game can be – particularly at the Bernabeu.
“That's what this profession is like, in football you have one game and another. Then when you lose it's terrible, when you win it's fine,” he told the press on the eve of this match before playing down the two defeats Ajax have suffered in their last three matches.
“I don't think it's a bad period for them, I don't agree. I think they are having a good season. I've seen a lot of games and they play well, construct the play well and they have great players. This is football. There is always an opponent and you have to respect them all, just like the teams Ajax have played.
“I hope we play a game with a serious performance as we did three days ago, that's my maximum hope. Football is day-to-day work. All we have to live for is the game tomorrow.”
One man hoping to make an impression is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the former Madrid forward.
“I think that in my time at Real Madrid, they were not really 'royal',” the veteran told De Telegraaf.
“At a certain moment, everybody had to leave, including the coach, technical director and chairman. They don't really bother about a million more or less.
