Overview
- Ajax beat Atalanta 2-0 at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Thursday with substitutes Tolu Arokodare scoring in the 87th minute and 17-year-old Abdellah Ouazane adding a stoppage-time goal.
- Ajax dominated possession and created numerous chances but only converted late after Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi produced several key saves and an early Ajax effort was ruled out for offside.
- Atalanta travelled to Amsterdam with a swollen injury list that forced coach Maurizio Sarri to start youth defender Relja Obric and left the side short of senior defensive options.
- The match sparked media debate over Marcos Leonardo’s form after pundit Wim Kieft criticised his mobility, Leonardo said a 30-day holiday hampered his fitness, and Ajax coach Míchel publicly defended the forward.
- The win ended an eight-game winless run for Ajax against Italian opponents and moves both clubs to focus on Matchday 3 of the Conference League, with Ajax scheduled to visit Midtjylland next.