Ajax Starts Regeer as Right Winger Against Galatasaray; Mokio Also Begins
Ajax is set to take on Galatasaray in a crucial Champions League match on November 5, 2025, at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The match will kick off at 21:00 CET and is officiated by French referee Benoît Bastien. After suffering three consecutive losses in the group stage, Ajax is in desperate need of points.
Surprising Lineup for Ajax
A notable shift in Ajax’s formation sees Youri Regeer starting as a right winger. Although primarily a midfielder, Ajax coach John Heitinga has chosen Regeer for this pivotal role against the Turkish champions. In midfield, Davy Klaassen and Jorthy Mokio receive starting positions, while Klaassen will wear the captain’s armband.
Key Player Changes
- Youri Regeer: Starting as right winger.
- Davy Klaassen: Replacing Kenneth Taylor, who is suspended.
- Jorthy Mokio: Making his first start in the competition.
- Mika Godts: Positioned on the left.
- Wout Weghorst: Playing as the central striker.
- Kasper Dolberg: Still unavailable due to injury.
Defensive Choices
In defense, Heitinga has opted for a combination of Youri Baas and Josip Sutalo at the center. This decision sees high-profile summer signing Ko Itakura starting on the bench. Meanwhile, Owen Wijndal and Anton Gaaei occupy the full-back positions, filling in after Lucas Rosa was sidelined by injury earlier that day.
Galatasaray’s Squad Updates
Galatasaray will be without their injured star Ilkay Gündogan. However, they bring a strong lineup that includes Leroy Sané and Victor Osimhen, alongside former Ajax defender Davinson Sánchez. Galatasaray tops the group with six points, having secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot.
Ajax’s Need for Points
Ajax has faced a challenging start in the group stages, with losses against Internazionale (0-2), Olympique Marseille (0-4), and Chelsea (1-5). As they prepare to face Galatasaray, Ajax aims to turn their fortunes around and capture their first points.
