Ajax host Aston Villa for the first leg of their Europa Conference League round of 16 clash this tonight.
Unai Emery's side arrived in Amsterdam last night and will be hoping to take an advantage back to Villa Park for next week's second leg. Dutch giants Ajax have struggled to find consistency this season and reached this stage of the competition - after dropping out of the Europa League - by beating Bodo/Glimt in a play-off.
Villa topped Group E and are one of the favourites to win the competition this year. They come into tonight's clash on the back of three consecutive league victories.
Emery has made five changes from the team which beat Luton as Lucas Digne, Tim Iroegbunam, Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Morgan Rogers all come into the XI. Diego Carlos returns from injury and is named among the substitues.
Stay tuned for build-up, match updates and post-match reaction from the Johan Cruyff Arena with our Villa reporter John Townley.
Player ratings
Here are your Villa player ratings
Ajax red card
87 - It's 10 vs 10 as Tristan Gooijer is sent off for a second yellow. Ref has had a poor game, lost control of it a while ago.
Konsa sent off
84 - Konsa has been sent off. He picks up a second yellow after appearing to take Akpom as the striker was heading towards goal.
Double Villa change
75 - Tim lips off with what looks like cramp. He is replaced by Zaniolo and McGinn will drop back next to Luiz. Moreno has also come on. He replaces Digne.
Martinez preserves clean sheet
68 - Another top save from Martinez, who denies Kenneth Taylor from inside the box. It came after Luiz lost possession having been tackled trying to pick out Bailey on the right.
70 - Digne swings in a corner but it's headed wide. His second delivery nearly catches Ramaj out, but the ref blows up for a foul.
Double Villa change
64 - Diaby and Rogers have both come off. Bailey and McGinn are on.
64 - Cash has been booked for dissent. A yellow card which could have been avoided.
65 - Luiz whips in a corner but Ramaj collects the ball at his near post.
Excellent from Martinez
56 - Ajax get in down the left side, but Martinez claws the ball away from danger just as it looked like Villa were going to concede.
57 - Lenglet gives the ball away twice in quick succession, but Digne wins a free-kick shortly after to bail him out.
58 - Wouldn't be surprised to see McGinn and or Bailey introduced soon. Villa have controlled the game better in the second half, but are still lacking creativity in the final third.
Villa start second half better
53 - Villa have started the half pretty well and has enjoyed a spell of possession since the game restarted.
54 - Martinez tries to find Konsa but his pass goes out for a corner. That gets the crowd up for the first time in the half.
55 - Konsa clears the danger after Henderson worked a short corner.
Second half starts
Matty Cash has come on for Pau Torres.
First half ratings
Martinez 7, Konsa 6, Lenglet 6, Pau 6, Digne 6, Iroegbunam 6, Luiz 7, Diaby 6, Rogers 6, Tielemans 5, Watkins 6.
HT: Ajax 0-0 Villa
All level at the break. Ajax have had the best chance to open the scoring through Brian Brobbey. Moussa Diaby had a sight of goal in the early stages.
Brobbey chance
34 - Brobbey is played in on goal but can only find the side-netting. By a long way the best chance of the game.
35 - Villa could do with half-time to regroup and assess what they could be doing better for the second period.
Henderson free-kick
30 - Lenglet fouls Brobbey about 25 yards from goal. Henderson's free-kick flies over the bar.
33 - Villa give away a corner after some sloppy play trying to build-up from the back. Henderson's corner is cleared at the near post.
34 - Villa are yet to sustain any pressure on the Ajax goal and have struggled to control proceedings at any point in this half.
Konsa booked
24 - Luiz is lucky not to get a yellow card for a cynical foul in the middle of the park.
25 - Mannsverk is then booked for a similar foul, before Konsa is also shown a yellow. It's been a very bitty first 25 minutes here.
27 - Watkins is clearly tackled, before the ball goes out of play. No corner was given but that was clearly the wrong decision from the ref.
Villa yet sustain pressure
15 - Watkins' hold up play has been spot on so far, but he hasn't been able to threaten just yet.
16 - Brobbey calls Martinez into action as the Villa 'keeper saves his header from inside the box. The striker was called offside anyway.
17 - Diaby tries to catch Ramaj out at an angle by slotting the ball towards the near post, but he gets down and saves.
Big test for Tim
9 - Diaby has seen plenty of the ball in the opening minutes of the tie. Just then he tried to beat his marker but dribbled the ball out of play.
10 - Rogers has impressed with a few neat touches out on the left. Iroegbunam too - it's a big test for him tonight against the likes of Henderson in midfield.
11 - Ajax's Hlynsson finds space down the right but his cross was too powerful to reach a teammate.
Diaby misses chance
2 - Konsa takes a whack on his knee, but he's fine to continue.
3 - Konsa then gives the ball away moments later and Ajax have the first attack of the game. Pau was on hand to clear the danger inside the box.
4 - Diaby has a chance to open the scoring. He collects the ball on the edge of the box, but his effort is saved by Ramaj
Kick-off
Villa kick-off and we're underway in Amsterdam. The away side are wearing their navy third strip with the Acorns sponsor.
Emi Martinez is the skipper tonight as John McGinn is on the bench.
I'll bring you updates every few minutes...
Final thoughts
Both set of players are back out ahead of kick-off. The atmosphere is crackling inside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Villa will be targeting a win to take back to Villa Park next week - it'll make the job a whole lot easier on home turf. Ajax have struggled throughout the season, but this is the biggest test of their campaign so far.
Fancy Villa to cause some problems with Watkins in top form and Diaby back in the side with a point to prove.
The kind of nights Emery wants more of
"I like to play in Europe and I am trying to to transmit to the players as well. Europe always is very, very difficult. I am very excited and motivated to achieve something here in Europe like I did before.
"But the most important is try to get as well prestige playing in Europe, play in different countries, different culture to play. I am playing in Europe 16 years in a row, but I never play here. For me as well it is being motivated to play here in the stadium and for myself it is very important in my career."
Emery's respect for Ajax
"They have my own respect and historic club in Europe. A few years ago they were playing in the semi-final of the Champions League and they were very close to playing in the final.
"They always are promoting a lot of young players. In the future, they are going to be very important players. The respect is because I think they are not being very consistent season this year, but I think they are probably getting better and of course for them to play here with their support at home tomorrow. I think they are going to show their best performance."
Villa team news reaction
Five changes for Villa tonight - I am surprised by that considering we're only 10 days away from the next international break. Granted, Villa play four games in that time, but a poor result tonight could be detrimental to the club's chances of going through. There's another leg to be played if Villa can't get the job done tonight.
Leon Bailey would've enjoyed himself today, but Moussa Diaby has the chance to build some confidence in his place. The biggest surprise comes in midfield, as Tim Iroegbunam replaces John McGinn.
Morgan Rogers will play off the left, in front of Lucas Digne, who comes in for Alex Moreno. Great to see Pau Torres starting and the return of Diego Carlos.
Ajax team news
Ajax XI: Ramaj, Rensch, Kaplan, Hato, Gooijer, Henderson, Mannsverk, Sosa, Hlynsson, Taylor, Brobbey.
Subs: Rulli, Gorter, Gaaei, Akpom, Borges, Medic, Rijkhoff, van den Boomen, Fitz-Jim, Tahirovic, Martha.
Villa team news
Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Lenglet, Pau, Digne, Iroegbunam, Luiz, Diaby, Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Cash, Carlos, McGinn, Moreno, Zaniolo, Bailey, Kesler-Hayden, Kellyman.
