Ajax vs. Real Madrid: 6 Key Battles to Watch

Matchday Two in Group D of this season's Champions League sees Real Madrid travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax.

These are two of Europe's most decorated clubs, with 13 European Cup and Champions League triumphs between them.

While Ajax are no longer the force they once were on the continent, they are enjoying a resurgence currently having won the Dutch Eredivisie title two years in a row.

Here are six key battles to look forward to when the champions of Netherlands host their Spanish counterparts on Wednesday night.

Frank De Boer vs. Jose Mourinho

An Ajax legend as a player, De Boer will not mark his two-year anniversary in his first management job until December but he has already claimed back-to-back league titles.

The former defender will be facing off against a true titan of the dugout in Mourinho, who is bidding to win the Champions League with his third different club.

Ajax may be at home, but De Boer will have to think carefully about how he sets up his team against one of the strongest outfits in world football. If he can get the balance right by managing to contain Real without forgoing his own side's quick passing game, then they might just have a chance of getting a result.

Daley Blind vs. Angel Di Maria

Like De Boer, the Ajax left-back has a name that is highly evocative of the club's glorious past. His father, Danny, was captain when the Amsterdam club last lifted the European Cup in 1995.

The 22-year-old left-back will be facing one of the toughest tests of his young career in the shape of Di Maria on Wednesday.

The Argentina international is often overshadowed by some of the bigger stars in the Real team, but his contribution as a regular on the right side of attack should not be overlooked. Only teammate Mesut Ozil registered more than Di Maria's 15 assists in La Liga last season.

A solid showing from Blind would go a long way to helping his team's cause and also see his own stock rise considerably. 

Toby Alderweireld vs. Gonzalo Higuain

Yet another exciting young Belgian talent, Alderweireld really made a name for himself when he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at Manchester United last season.

The win was not enough to keep Ajax in the Europa League, but it was a noteworthy achievement for the Dutch side nonetheless.

The 23-year-old centre-back is likely to be facing Higuain on Wednesday as the Argentina striker has been regularly preferred to teammate Karim Benzema in the starting lineup so far this season.

Ricardo Van Rhijn vs. Cristiano Ronaldo

Van Rhijn broke into the Ajax first team at the turn of the year following injury to Gregory van der Wiel, and he has held down his starting place again this season following Van der Wiel's summer move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 22-year-old has started all but one of Ajax's league and European matches so far this term and has once again impressed.

But challenges for a young right-back don't come much tougher than going up against Ronaldo, who was Real's late match-winner in their opening Group D match against Manchester City, a 3-2 win at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo has already scored seven goals in as many appearances this season, and he will take some stopping when Real visit the Dutch capital.

Christian Poulsen vs. Mesut Ozil

Much-traveled midfielder Poulsen joined Ajax late in the summer transfer window after leaving French club Evian.

The Denmark international's move to Netherlands means he has now played professionally in seven different countries' top flights including Germany, Spain, Italy and England.

The 32-year-old started in Ajax's first Group D match at Borussia Dortmund. Should he be retained in the side he will be responsible for stopping Ozil.

Germany playmaker Ozil is one of the world's best at finding space in front of a defence and either picking out a killer pass or gliding into the danger area with the ball at his feet. If he plays, Poulsen will be key to his team's fortunes. 

Christian Eriksen vs. Sami Khedira

As the youngest player at the 2010 World Cup, Eriksen established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in European football.

Although the young attacking midfielder has perhaps not progressed at quite the same rate since then, he was still a key part of Ajax's two title wins.

Charged with stopping the 20-year-old will be Khedira, a world-class central midfielder who last squared off against him when Germany beat Denmark 2-1 at Euro 2012.