FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Semi Final First Leg - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - February 6, 2019 Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior gestures during the match REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo
(Reuters) - The Champions League last-16 first-leg match between Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday is an intriguing clash of two European heavyweights who have made young players central to their strategies, but for very different reasons.
Ajax, four-times European Cup winners who are in the knockout stages for the first time in 13 years, have enhanced their reputation as a talent factory due to the rise of homegrown Dutch players Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
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