This wasn't meant to happen

This wasn't meant to happen.

Ajax come of age in superb Bernabeu display

This was a performance of sheer quality by a young Ajax side who arrived at the home of the European champions with no fear as they danced through to the quarter-finals.

A last-16 meeting with Real Madrid was the club's first knockout tie in 13 years, and with six of their starting side aged 22 and under, there is the sense something special could be achieved this season - although the challenge of holding on to those players when the next transfer window opens will be significant.

The visitors needed at least two goals in Madrid and learned from their wastefulness in the first leg to silence the home support inside 18 minutes.

Ajax had to weather early pressure, but Ziyech's fine finish came as a powerful blow to their bewildered hosts.

Tadic, almost unrecognizable from his Southampton days, produced a moment of excellence to set up Neres before seemingly putting the tie out of reach with a finish that epitomized his performance.

There was a long wait before the video assistant referee eventually confirmed Noussair Mazraoui had managed to keep the ball in play during the build-up to Tadic's goal - as nervous tension paved the way for unbridled joy in the away end.

Barcelona-bound Frankie de Jong shone brightly too - with his pending £65m move to La Liga already a concern for Real, but it was fellow midfielder Schone who added the deserved gloss just as Real may have sensed hope.

Ajax could have had even more as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced to stop efforts from Donny van de Beek and Tadic, while the impressive Matthijs de Light stood firm alongside Daley Blind under periods of pressure.

The visitors more than held their own against the holders and could play a huge part in the final stages of this season's competition should they maintain such a devastating level of performance.

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