While a repeat of that season's success might be unlikely, Ajax's Champions League performance this season have been extremely impressive. Their latest match was a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund. Despite falling a goal behind after conceding a first-half penalty, Ajax fought back and scored three goals within a late 20-minute span to notch their fourth consecutive win and clinch a spot in the round of 16.
When looking at the current Ajax team, the name that clearly stands out above all others has to be Sébastien Haller. In Ajax's victory over Dortmund, the Ivorian scored his seventh Champions League goal in just four matches. In 2018-19, Haller had a breakout season at Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring 15 league goals alongside Luka Jović.
It would soon seem as though both would experience career stalls. Both players left the club in the subsequent off-season; Jović has not even been close to his previous form ever since joining Real Madrid. Similarly, Haller was never able to match his prior standard of play after he joined West Ham United. At West Ham, Haller scored just 14 goals in 54 matches over one-and-a-half seasons.
However, ever since joining Ajax in January 2021, Haller's career trajectory has only gone one way: upwards. He is scoring goals at a higher rate than he has at any prior point of his career. His seven Champions League goals thus far see him trail only the best centre-forward in the world: Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski. Haller's current Champions League form does not seem unsustainable, either: he is in excellent form domestically as well, with seven goals in 11 Eredivisie matches.
That being said, this Ajax team is about more than just Haller. Dušan Tadić and Daley Blind, two players who were crucial to Ajax's 2019 semifinal run, have remained key pieces for Ajax to this day. Tadić in particular continues to be criminally underrated despite several standout years at Ajax. The Serbian ought to be regarded as one of European football's standout playmakers.
Although many of the names which powered the iconic Ajax team of three seasons ago have since left the club, their replacements have proven to be up to the task. The likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Jurriën Timber, Noussair Mazraoui, and off-season signing Steven Berghuis have impressed many during this opening portion of the season.
Going back to the prior point about playmaking, no other club has created more goalscoring opportunities than Ajax up to this point in this season's Champions League. Ajax also rank third in possession at an average of 58.8%. This combination has served as the foundation of Ajax's Champions League success this season.
Let's also not forget that there's still the January transfer window to come. After all, it was during the most recent January window that Ajax signed Haller. With the help of one or two savvy signings, a deep Champions League run could once again be on the cards.
Another Champions League semifinal appearance might be a step too far for the current Ajax crop; however, the quarterfinals are undoubtedly in play. Since Ajax will almost certainly top Group C, they will be more likely to avoid a title contender in the round of 16. However, even if they don't, Ajax have the personnel to potentially upset one of the leading contenders; all it takes it for everything to just fall into place over 180 minutes.
After two seasons of rebuilding following many major departures, Ajax now find themselves primed for what could be another season in which they give Europe's elite a major scare. With the obvious exception of Paris Saint-Germain, they are clearly the best team from outside a major domestic league right now.
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