Van Dijk was on Thursday crowned the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year during the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco.

He was the big winner from the UEFA Champions League awards, picking up the Player of the Year accolade, ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Liverpool ace also scooped the Defender of the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League Season while his Reds teammate Alisson won the Goalkeeper of the Season award.

“I need to thank my teammates. Without them, I would not have achieved what I have achieved,” van Dijk said after picking up his award.

“It’s been a long road and it’s part of my journey. I’m very proud to get this trophy.

“It’s credit to everyone who has helped me. I wasn’t 18 and went straight to the top. I had to work every step of the way.

“I looked up to Ronaldinho a lot (while) growing up. I enjoyed his play with all his tricks, it was a great feeling to watch him play,” he said.

The UEFA Champions League draw ceremony took place in Monaco, with the elite of European football learning their group-stage opponents for this year’s tournament.

The event was also an opportunity for UEFA to hand out their annual awards, recognising the best performing players in each position throughout the previous year.

As well as the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward, UEFA selected the best Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year and handed the President’s award to Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.

Shortlists for every category were selected by a jury comprising the 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the Champions League and Europa League last season.

They were joined by 55 prominent journalists who were also handed votes.

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The away win which gave them a 3-3 aggregate scoreline took them past Ajax Amsterdam on the away goals rule into the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League final match of June 1.

Tottenham looked down and out at half-time after skipper Matthijs de Ligt’s fifth-minute header and a superb 35th minute effort by Hakim Ziyech put Ajax in complete command of the tie.

The Dutch side had won the first leg 1-0 in London last week.

But 24 hours after Liverpool’s miracle comeback to beat FC Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate, Tottenham produced their own heroics to reach their first European Cup final match.

The celebratory mood in the jam-packed Johan Cruyff Arena turned to one of nail-biting tension after Brazilian Moura scored twice in four minutes early in the second half.

The goals had put Spurs within a goal of going through.

Ziyech hit the post for Ajax who appeared to have weathered the storm, but Moura struck past Andre Onana to flatten the Ajax players and send the away fans into delirium.

Tottenham, playing in their first European Cup semi-final for 57 years, arrived in Amsterdam on a run of woeful form having suffered three successive defeats in all competitions.

Ajax, by contrast, were buoyant after winning the Dutch Cup final at the weekend, and they began on the front foot with Dusan Tadic forcing a flying save from Hugo Lloris.

When the resulting corner kick came, Tottenham’s marking was non-existent as De Ligt glanced his header home.

It did not change the basic equation for Tottenham who knew they needed to score twice and Mauricio Pochettino’s side, so disappointing last week, responded in spirited fashion.

Son Heung-min, back after missing the first leg because of suspension, deceived goalkeeper Onana with a cross that hit the post and Son then forced another save from a flowing move.

But Ajax were cool, calm and collected and bided their time before striking again in devastating fashion.

Tadic, who moments earlier had dragged a shot just wide, was released down the left and he cut the ball back perfectly for Ziyech to whip a left-footed shot inside the far post.

Tottenham sent on veteran striker Fernando Llorente for midfielder Victor Wanyama for the start of the second half and pushed Ajax back.

Dele Alli was denied by Onana but Tottenham grabbed a lifeline soon after.

That was when a rapid counter-attack ended with Moura converting in style after sprinting through to meet Alli’s pass in the 55th minute.

Four minutes later the impossible began to look possible as Onana saved brilliantly from Llorente but Ajax failed to clear the ball and Moura fired through a crowd.

In a rip-roaring finale played out in nerve-shredding tension, Ziyech almost restored Ajax’s lead.

This was when his slow shot thudded against the post while a desperate lunging block by De Lijt denied Moura.

When ex-Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen headed against the crossbar late on it seemed Tottenham would fall just short, as they did 57 years ago in their only other European Cup semi-final.

But there was one final twist.

A high ball pumped forward was flicked to Moura by Alli and the Brazilian’s first-time shot found the corner.

While Tottenham celebrated an unlikely recovery, Ajax’s journey that began in the second qualifying round in July, ended in abject misery and disbelief.

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The win helped them to advance to their second successive final match with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Two goals each from stand-in forward Divock Origi and halftime substitute Georginio Wijnaldum left Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona utterly shell-shocked by a Liverpool performance full of passion, belief and determination.

Juergen Klopp’s side will play the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final pairing between Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur, with the Dutch side leading 1-0 from the first leg in London.

“Unbelievable. I don’t think many people gave us a chance,” said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

“Before the game we knew that it would be difficult but it was still possible of course. It’s amazing. We knew that at Anfield we could do something special.”

Liverpool become only the third team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League to come from three goals down after the first leg of a semi-final and progress.

Only Panathinaikos in 1970/1971 and FC Barcelona themselves in 1985/1986 have ever done it.

For Barca, who went out on away goals to AS Roma in the quarter-finals last year after winning the first-leg 4-1, it was a bitter night.

It was a night that will raise many questions for coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi, whose two goals in the first leg had given his team a seemingly comfortable advantage, was unable to make his influence on the game count.

They needed an away goal that would have been decisive.

Liverpool, without two thirds of their strike force with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino injured, took a seventh minute lead.

That was when a poor headed clearance from Jordi Alba fell at the feet of Jordan Henderson, who burst goalwards.

His low shot was parried out by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but it went straight to Origi who slotted home.

Barca had openings in the first half, but when Messi twice got space around the box he fired wide of the target.

Also, when Jordi Alba burst goalwards just before halftime, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was out quickly to nullify the danger.

Yet the game took a remarkable turn following the introduction of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for the injured left-back Andy Robertson at the break.

The Dutchman drove home a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, which Barca goalkeeper Ter Stegen should have saved, to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Two minutes later Wijnaldum rose to meet a Xherdan Shaqiri cross with a powerful header to make it 3-3 on aggregate.

Liverpool then grabbed an extraordinary fourth goal with a quickly-taken corner kick from Alexander-Arnold.

He caught the Barca defence asleep with a low ball that was turned in at the near post by Origi.

That sent Anfield wild.

But then, Klopp’s side suddenly found themselves needing to switch mindset and defend a lead as Barca slipped, belatedly, into their trademark possession game.

Yet, with Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip outstanding in the centre of defence and Brazilian Fabinho making some crucial interventions in midfield, Liverpool held on.

Klopp’s side, who lost to Real Madrid in last year’s final match in Kiev, remain in with a chance of a double triumph.

They head into Sunday’s final round of English Premier League (EPL) games trailing leaders Manchester City by just a point.

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His brace took his goal tally for the Catalans to a remarkable 600 in the process.

Former Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez, reminded the visitors of his clinical finishing by splitting a tense and finely-balanced game at the Nou Camp in the 26th minute.

However, Liverpool went on to carve out a number of chances, but spurned them all.

Messi scored the all-important second goal of the night in the 75th minute, chesting the ball down on the rebound and dribbling it over the line.

It followed Suarez’s effort which hammered the crossbar with a shot, with his knee.

The Argentine then added to Barca’s already huge advantage to take into next Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield by scoring his milestone goal in style.

Messi smashed the top corner with a sizzling free kick in the 82nd minute.

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The 22-year-old struck in the 15th minute to give Ajax a crucial away goal and leave Spurs facing a daunting task in Amsterdam if they are to reach the final for the first time.

Ajax, having already knocked out Real Madrid and Juventus en route to their first semi-final in Europe’s elite competition since 1997, were too pacey for a labouring home side.

They were especially enterprising in the first half during which they could have put the tie to bed.

Tottenham did improve after the break but Ajax defended their lead diligently to restrict the home attack and almost scored a second goal late on when David Neres hit the post.

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It was Barcelona’s first time of reaching the semi-final of the competition in four years.

Barca, who toyed with United for the majority of the encounter, sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and will meet either Porto or Liverpool in the last four.

Messi had failed to score in his last 12 quarter-final appearances, but he settled his side’s nerves after a bright start from United.

Collecting a misplaced pass from Ashley Young, Messi curled the ball into the bottom corner in the 16th minute.

The Argentine then pounced on another lapse from United’s defence four minutes later to win back possession high up the pitch and fire a shot from outside the box.

The ball then slipped under the arms of visiting keeper David de Gea.

Philippe Coutinho finished off a therapeutic win for the Catalans, after three quarter-final failures in a row, by curling into the top corner in the second half.

United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s greatest night as a player came at the Nou Camp.

But after losing the first leg at Old Trafford 1-0, his team needed to become the first side to win a European game there in 31 matches in order to progress.

They clung to the hope of another famous European escape act after last month’s miraculous 3-1 win at Paris St Germain and made a strong start as Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar in the opening stages.

They also survived a scare when a penalty awarded to Barca for an apparent foul by Fred on Ivan Rakitic was overturned after a VAR review.

Yet their hopes were soon extinguished when Young was caught in possession on the left wing and Messi seized the ball.

He scurred across the pitch and held off more United defenders before bending a superb shot past the outstretched De Gea.

The Spanish goalkeeper was left embarrassed for Messi’s second goal as the Argentine’s tame shot crept under his body.

United looked down and out and Messi nearly dealt them further pain before halftime by sparking another quick break, but this time De Gea thwarted the Catalans.

De Gea was taunted by Barca fans in the second half, which turned into a procession for the home side and the out-of-form Coutinho turned up the party atmosphere with his sensational strike.

The nearest United came to finding the target after the break came when Barca keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen turned an Alexis Sanchez header around the post late on.

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The win by Ajax ended the Serie A team’s dreams of winning the Champions League.

Ajax’s 19-year-old captain Matthijs de Ligt headed the winner from the corner in the 67th minute of the quarter-final second leg.

The Dutch side came from behind to clinch a 3-2 aggregate win and reach the last four for the first time since 1996/97.

Cristiano Ronaldo, aiming for a fourth successive Champions League title after winning the last three with Real Madrid, put Juventus ahead in the 28th minute.

It was a typically emphatic header, and the Portuguese sixth goal of the competition.

But Donny van de Beek levelled six minutes later before the visitors swept Juventus aside in the second half with wave after wave of attacks as they earned a semi-final against Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur.

Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana gave his team an early scare when his clearance was charged down by Emre Can but the rebound flew wide.

Ajax settled well after that but, despite not playing well, Juventus went ahead when Ronaldo got away from the defenders to score the 126th Champions League goal of his career.

There was a long delay for the VAR review, the referee eventually going to the pitchside monitor with the ball back on the centre circle ready for the re-start, before the goal was confirmed.

Ajax kept their cool and took six minutes to level, helped by a somewhat lucky break.

Hakim Ziyech’s long-range shot hit a defender and fell perfectly for Van de Beek who, unmarked and onside, slotted the ball calmly past Wojciech Szczesny.

But the Dutch side had to wait for another long VAR check before the goal was confirmed.

Ajax took complete control in the second half and their geometric passing repeatedly opened up the Juventus defence, which sorely missed injured veteran Giorgio Chiellini.

Szczesny made one-handed save from Ziyech after Juventus were opened up again and then turned Van de Beek’s curling shot over for a corner.

Juventus were rocking but, ironically, Ajax’s winner came from an old-fashioned header as De Ligt outjumped two defenders to score.

Ajax had chances for further goals and Ronaldo’s frustration boiled over in stoppage time when he was booked for a lunging tackle from behind near the centre circle.

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Juventus took the lead on the stroke of halftime as Portuguese forward Ronaldo began an attacking move inside his own half.

He then sprinted down field and diving to head in a clever chip from Joao Cancelo.

Ajax equalised 30 seconds into the second half after Cancelo lost control of the ball to allow David Neres to run down the left wing.

The Ajax player then cut inside and curl the ball past Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

The result leaves the Serie A side in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals in next week’s return leg in Turin.

However, they will be mindful of Ajax’s 4-1 away win over Real Madrid in the last round that eliminated the holders 5-3 on aggregate.

Hakim Ziyech had several efforts at goal in a lively start for the youthful Dutch team, who have come through the pre-group phase qualifying round to reach the last eight.

Donny van de Beek scraped the outside of the upright with a 25th minute effort from close range after opening up space for himself in the penalty area in Ajax’s best chance of the first half.

But Juventus, with the 34-year-old Ronaldo central to their attacks, worked their way into the contest and came close themselves.

Ronaldo set up Federico Bernardeschi to turn and shoot in the 37th minute. But he was just off target.

Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in the previous round against Atletico Madrid, then scored a 125th Champions League goal.

After equalising, Ajax then dominated possession but were guilty of over-elaborate passing and were also fortunate not to have given away a penalty.

Defender Nicolas Tagliafico was tugging on the jersey of Juventus captain Mario Mandzukic and was lucky not to be punished.

Spanish referee Carlos del Cerro Grande paused briefly in the 53rd minute to presumably hear from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) but resumed play before TV replays showed that Juventus had been denied a decent claim.

However, influential left back Tagliafico will miss the second leg next Tuesday after being booked late in the first half.

Juve hit the upright in the closing stages through substitute Douglas Costa although Ajax could have had the last say as Dusan Tadic missed a good chance in stoppage time.

More than 100 Juventus supporters were detained by Dutch police before the match while home fans were also arrested as a water cannon was used outside the ground.

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The victory helped the English side to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate scoreline.

Never in Europe’s premium club competition had a team progressed after a 2-0 home defeat, but Rashford’s stoppage-time penalty made sure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side advanced in the most dramatic fashion.

The visitors, severely depleted by injuries, went ahead twice in the first half through Romelu Lukaku but Juan Bernat equalised for the French champions in between.

PSG were advancing to the last eight 3-2 on aggregate before referee Damir Skomina awarded Manchester United a penalty kick for a Presnel Kimpembe handball.

After a lengthy delay for the VAR review, Rashford lashed home the spot kick to level the tie at 3-3 and send Manchester United through on away goals.

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They earned a 2-0 home win, thanks to late goals from Uruguayan defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin in a tense, incident-packed game.

Gimenez slid to the floor in a crowded penalty box to bundle the ball into the net from close range in the 78th minute.

That was after former Juve forward Alvaro Morata had had a goal ruled out following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Atletico Madrid also had a penalty kick awarded then taken away by the technology earlier in the game.

But they only grew in determination and captain Godin grabbed a vital second goal in the 83rd minute to take into the return leg in Turin.

The veteran defender appeared at the near-post to knock a loose ball into the net.

This was after Atletico Madrid had wreaked havoc again from a set-piece, the shot deflecting off familiar foe Cristiano Ronaldo on its way in.

“It’s a magnificent result. We scored twice and they did not. But we still have the second leg and we know the 90 minutes in Turin will be just as difficult as they were tonight,” Godin said.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable and luckily we were able to overcome adversity after the decisions of the referee and VAR.”

Both sides are two European juggernauts who have reached four of the last five UEFA Champions League finals between them without lifting the trophy.

But their meeting was as bruising and tight a match as could be expected between sides renowned for their intimidating defences.

Juve’s signing of Ronaldo was a clear attempt to boost their firepower and hopes of winning the competition.

But the man who scored 22 times against Atletico Madrid as a Real Madrid player was kept relatively quiet on his return to the Spanish capital.

The Portuguese tested goalkeeper Jan Oblak early on with a scorching free kick and as his side chased an away goal in stoppage time he headed over the bar.

It prompted gleeful whistles from the home supporters at a raucous Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, which will host the competition’s final in June.

“Small incidents decide games like this. We knew they were very dangerous from set-pieces and we should have been more focused,” said Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini.

“We are not happy at all. It’s a big result to come back from, but we’ll give everything in Turin.”

Atletico Madrid had made a timid start and their best moment before the interval was when a bursting run from Diego
Costa drew a foul by the area.

It was initially given as a penalty, then reduced to a free kick.

Roared on by their famously fervent supporters and animated coach Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid grew in confidence in the second half.

They should have taken the lead when a pass from deep by Antoine Griezmann released Costa, who rampaged towards the area but dragged his shot well wide of goal.

France forward Griezmann came much closer to scoring moments later, but his attempted chip was turned on to the crossbar by Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

That save did not halt Atletico’s momentum and they were well worthy of the two goals although they must do without Costa and Thomas Partey.

Both players have been suspended from the second leg on March 12, along with Juve’s Alex Sandro.

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