Preview: Ajax v APOEL

• Frank de Boer is pleased Ajax have learned their lessons in Group F
• Giorgos Donis wants APOEL to conclude their campaign "in perfect fashion"
• The teams drew 1-1 in Nicosia when they met on matchday two
• APOEL are chasing their first away win in the competition proper at the 11th attempt
• APOEL have conceded just two goals in 12 league games this season

Permutations: Ajax (2pts) v APOEL (1)
• Ajax will finish third with a draw.
• APOEL must win to pip Ajax to the UEFA Europa League.

Possible lineups
Ajax: Cillessen; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Viergever; Klaassen, Serero, Andersen; Schöne, Milik, Kishna.
• Out: Fischer (hamstring), Sigthórsson (ankle), Boilesen (knee)
• Doubtful: El Ghazi (groin), Zimling (thigh)

APOEL: Pardo; Antoniades, Carlão, Papazoglou, Mário Sérgio; Aloneftis, Nuno Morais, Vinicius, Efrem; Sheridan, Manduca.
• Out: João Guilherme (suspended), De Vincenti (stomach), Charalambides (ankle), Riise (illness)

Frank de Boer, Ajax coach
We are a team that want to dominate and they are a team who play on the counter. I don't expect it to be different this time.

You should always aim as high as you can. Last year and the year before we had great teams in our group. We just have to make sure we stay in the competition because it is only by playing against such teams [FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain] that you can get better. They play at a higher tempo and you don't see that a lot in our league. That's a very important aspect, but in the UEFA Europa League you will have opponents that will really test you too.

We wanted to survive the winter in the UEFA Champions League but we knew it would be very difficult. In the first match we stood up quite well against Paris Saint-Germain. Then we should have won in Nicosia, but we didn't. Barcelona away, we just weren't good enough. Barcelona at home, we were good and we could've made the difference. PSG away we should have won – the football was quite good but maybe we were still a bit naive.

Giorgos Donis, APOEL coach
We probably don't have much chance in this match. It's very difficult to win an away game like this. Ajax are a very good club and have a very good team, maybe better than ours, but anything can happen in football. What I ask of my players is to give their best and to finish this Champions League campaign in perfect fashion.

We have to focus for the whole game, be disciplined, and the mental strength of the players must be evident. Once we have played the next three matches [before a two-week winter break] we can relax and get better results. I'm proud of this team, because despite the fatigue everyone has showed what they can do. I look forward with optimism.

Weekend results
Ajax 5-0 Willem II (Sigthórsson 14, Milik 27 43, Veltman 31, Klaassen 57)
Anorthosis Famagusta FC 0-1 APOEL (Djebbour 81)

Form guide (all competitions)
Ajax: WDLWWL
APOEL: WWLDDL

Match facts
• Have Ajax ever gone through a UEFA Champions League group stage without winning at least one game? Find out in our match background.