Amsterdam Arena
August 2017
The UEFA Champions League third qualifying round draw paired Ajax with OGC Nice from France. It was a challenging draw—Nice had finished third in Ligue 1 last season, ahead of established clubs like Lyon and Marseille.
The first leg would be in Nice, the second leg in Amsterdam. Aggregate winner would advance to the playoff round, one step from the Champions League group stage.
This was significant. Champions League football meant prestige, money, and global attention. For Ajax, it was essential—both for the club's finances and reputation.
For Andrei, it was an opportunity. If he could force his way into the squad, into the match, he'd be playing at the highest level of club football.
The week before the Nice match, training intensity peaked. Bosz was meticulous, planning every detail. They watched hours of video analysis—Nice's tactical setup, their key players, their weaknesses.
OGC Nice - Key Players:
Mario Balotelli (striker) - Experienced, physical, unpredictable
Jean-Michaël Seri (midfielder) - Creative playmaker, excellent passer
Alassane Pléa (forward) - Fast, clinical finisher
"They're dangerous on the counter," Bosz warned. "Balotelli holds the ball up, Pléa runs behind. We must be compact defensively."
On Thursday evening, Bosz announced the squad traveling to France. Andrei waited nervously as names were called.
"Onana, Veltman, Sánchez, de Ligt, Riedewald, de Jong, Schöne, Ziyech, van de Beek, Dolberg, Younes, Neres, Huntelaar..."
The list continued. Eighteen players total for European matches.
"...and Luca."
Andrei exhaled. He'd made the squad. Probably wouldn't start, might not even play, but he was there. Part of Ajax's Champions League campaign.
That evening, Elena hugged him tightly.
"You're going to play in the Champions League."
"Maybe. Probably not in Nice, but maybe in Amsterdam."
"You'll play. I know you will."
Friday morning, the squad flew to Nice on a charter flight. Andrei had never experienced this level of organization—everything planned to the minute, meals prepared by team nutritionists, accommodation at a five-star hotel.
They trained that evening at the Allianz Riviera stadium—Nice's modern home ground. The pitch was perfect, the facilities world-class. This was Champions League standard.
After training, Bosz pulled several players aside for individual conversations. When it was Andrei's turn, his heart raced.
"You won't start tomorrow," Bosz said directly. "But I'm bringing you off the bench if we need a goal. The away goal is crucial in these ties. If I call you, be ready to run, press, create. Understood?"
"Yes, coach."
"Good. Get rest."
Andrei barely slept that night. His Champions League debut might come tomorrow. At eighteen years old, he might play in Europe's elite competition.
The next evening, the bus ride to the stadium felt surreal. Fans lined the streets, Ajax supporters who'd traveled from the Netherlands mixing with Nice fans in red and black.
The Allianz Riviera held 36,000 fans. It was packed, loud, intimidating. Andrei sat on the bench in his Ajax tracksuit, watching the warm-up, trying to process that this was real.
Ajax Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK: André Onana
DEF: Joël Veltman, Davinson Sánchez, Matthijs de Ligt, Jaïro Riedewald
MID: Frenkie de Jong, Lasse Schöne, Donny van de Beek
FWD: Hakim Ziyech, Kasper Dolberg, Amin Younes
A strong lineup. Ajax's best players.
Nice Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK: Walter Benítez
DEF: Arnaud Souquet, Dante, Maxime Le Marchand, Dalbert
MID: Jean-Michaël Seri, Wylan Cyprien, Adrien Tameze
FWD: Alassane Pléa, Mario Balotelli, Allan Saint-Maximin
Kickoff. The atmosphere was electric.
From the start, it was clear this would be difficult. Nice pressed aggressively, Balotelli bullying Ajax's young center-backs physically. The French side was experienced, confident, dangerous.
In the 23rd minute, disaster struck. A quick counter saw Pléa break clear down the left. His cross found Balotelli, who finished powerfully past Onana.
1-0 Nice.
Ajax tried to respond but struggled to create clear chances. Nice defended deep, compact, hitting on transitions. By halftime, it remained 1-0.
In the dressing room, Bosz was calm but firm. "We need an away goal. One goal changes everything."
The second half continued the pattern—Ajax controlling possession but creating little, Nice dangerous on the break.
In the 67th minute, Bosz turned to the bench. "Andrei, warm up. You're going on for Donny."
Adrenaline flooded Andrei's system. He sprinted along the touchline, stretching frantically. This was happening. His Champions League debut.
In the 70th minute, the substitution board went up. Number 6 off (van de Beek), number 14 on (Luca).
Andrei jogged onto the pitch to polite applause from a few hundred Ajax fans in the away section. He took up position on the left side of the attacking three, with Ziyech on the right and Dolberg central.
Champions League Debut
Competition: UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Pressure: Extreme
Composure: 62/99 (barely adequate)
The first touch came quickly—a simple pass from Schöne. Andrei controlled it, looked up, played it back. Safe. Build confidence.
Nice was tired now, their pressing less intense. Space opened up. In the 76th minute, Andrei received the ball on the left touchline.
He drove forward. The right-back closed on him, forcing him wide. Andrei could see Ziyech making a run far post, Dolberg checking to the ball.
He whipped in a cross with his right foot—not perfect, but decent. It cleared the first defender, reached Ziyech at the back post. The Moroccan struck it first-time—but the goalkeeper saved brilliantly.
Chance created
Vision: Good recognition of teammate position
Ajax kept pushing. In the 84th minute, they finally equalized. Ziyech's free kick from twenty-five yards curled over the wall and into the top corner. Beautiful, unstoppable.
1-1.
The away goal. Crucial.
Ajax tried to protect the draw, sitting deeper, defending the result. Andrei tracked back, helping defensively, showing work rate.
In injury time, one final chance. Ajax won the ball high up the pitch. Andrei received it centrally, thirty yards from goal. He could see Dolberg making a run, but three defenders were between them.
Critical Decision:
Option A: Through ball (30% success)
Option B: Shot from distance (20% success)
Option C: Safe possession play (100% retention)
The old Andrei might have risked it. The maturing Andrei chose intelligence over heroics.
He played it square to Schöne, maintaining possession, killing time.
Final whistle: Nice 1-1 Ajax.
A crucial away goal secured. Ajax was in the driver's seat for the second leg.
Champions League Debut Complete:
Minutes Played: 23
Rating: 6.8/10
Contribution: Solid, intelligent, no mistakes
In the dressing room, Bosz congratulated the team. "Perfect result. Now we finish it at home."
On the flight back to Amsterdam, Andrei stared out the window at the darkness, processing what had happened. He'd played in the Champions League. At eighteen years old, he'd competed at the highest level and hadn't looked out of place.
Achievement Unlocked: Champions League Debut
Mental Attributes: +0.2 (confidence boost)
Composure: +0.1 (performed in high-pressure environment)
Overall Rating: 74.6 → 74.9
Elena met him at Schiphol Airport despite the late hour.
"How does it feel?" she asked, driving home through empty Amsterdam streets.
"Unreal. I played in the Champions League, Elena. The actual Champions League."
"You did. And you'll play more."
That night, unable to sleep despite exhaustion, Andrei walked onto their small terrace. The canal was quiet at 2 AM, just distant sounds of the city never fully sleeping.
A year ago, he'd been an unknown prospect in Iași. Now he was playing for Ajax in the Champions League, living in Amsterdam, building a life with the woman he loved.
The beautiful game had taken him further than he'd ever imagined.
And the journey was just beginning.