Ajax Amsterdam secured a 4-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, advancing 5-3 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. The Dutch side ended Real's run of eight consecutive semifinal appearances, delivering their earliest European Cup exit since 2010.
Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a pass from Dusan Tadic, who later assisted David Neres for a 2-0 lead. Tadic's 62nd-minute strike sealed the win, while Lasse Schone's free kick completed the 4-1 result at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid, missing captain Sergio Ramos, faced early setbacks including two woodwork hits and a red card for Nacho in stoppage time. The Spanish club, who had won the last three titles, also dealt with injuries to key players and a controversial near-miss from Raphael Varane early in the match.
Tadic's performance highlighted Ajax's dominance, with the Serbian playmaker scoring and creating opportunities. The Dutch team, who last won the trophy in 1995, extended their European Cup quarterfinal streak to 20 years after this victory.
