Fenerbahce holds Ajax to scoreless draw with disciplined performance

When Fenerbahce hosted Ajax in the group stage of the Europa League two weeks ago, an 89th-minute header from Fernandao proved to be the difference and handed the Turkish club three points.

There were no later heroics in Thursday's reverse fixture at Amsterdam ArenA, but Fenerbahce still achieved a desirable result.

Knowing that a point would bode well for its chances of progressing to the knockout stage, Fenerbahce played out a scoreless draw at Ajax in which Vitor Pereira's side was the stronger of the two and not once looked like conceding.

A lack of goals didn't translate to a lack of entertainment, thoygh, as Diego and Davy Klaassen engaged in a battle of playmakers, each looking to find an opening in their respective opponent's backline. However, neither No. 10 could produce a goal, and Fenerbahce maintained its two-point lead over Ajax in Group A as a result.

With Molde having secured a place in the knockout stage by virtue of a 2-1 victory over Celtic, only one of Fenerbahce and Ajax can quality for the round of 32.