Did it deliver?
The match was billed as the fixture, but for 86 minutes it was a one-sided, tense affair with little cutting edge. The late goals saved it from a dull finish, so it only partly lived up to the hype.
Ajax controlled this tie with 61% possession, 656 passes at 92% accuracy and 21 shots to Atalanta's 16, but they needed patience and a late burst to turn that control into a result. Atalanta defended deeply, and their goalkeeper made five saves, yet they managed just one shot on target and created no big chances, so they were never a real threat going forward. The game turned in the closing minutes: Nicola Zalewski's booking for a bad foul in the 86th gave Ajax a free kick, and Tolu Arokodare, a substitute, converted from Youri Baas's assist a minute later. Abdellah Ouazane, also off the bench, added a second at the death to seal a result that keeps Ajax well placed in the Europa Conference League. For Atalanta it is a frustrating night of toothless attacking and a collapse in the final five minutes.
Ajax are bottom-half in the Conference League table with zero points after losing at Hajduk Split, and they need a response at home. Atalanta arrive fourth after beating Pafos, but they have been inconsistent domestically and are badly short in defence. Expect goals in Amsterdam.
Scored twice against Groningen and is Ajax's main creative threat against a depleted Atalanta defence.
Also scored twice at the weekend and his energy from midfield could trouble Atalanta's makeshift back line.
Sarri is backing him to improve after a quiet start, and a big European night could turn his season around.
With Raspadori out, he is a key presence in attack and a threat against an Ajax defence missing several regulars.
Ajax
Atalanta
Ajax•DefenderLazar Samardzic from Atalanta is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Youri Baas from Ajax.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 3 minutes of added time.
Substitution for Ajax: Dies Janse comes on for Julian Brandt.
Lazar Samardzic from Atalanta commits a foul.
Abdellah Ouazane from Ajax is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Jonathan Rowe's left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Mario Pasalic provided the assist.
assist: Youri Baas
Goal! Ajax lead 1-0 against Atalanta. Tolu Arokodare scores with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom right corner, assisted by Youri Baas.
Foul committed by Nicola Zalewski of Atalanta.
Abdellah Ouazane from Ajax wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nicola ZalewskiYellow CardNicola Zalewski of Atalanta receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Attempt missed. Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta takes a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it goes high and wide to the right. Jonathan Rowe assisted after a fast break.
Atalanta is awarded a corner after Sofyan Amrabat concedes.
Substitution for Atalanta: Jonathan Rowe comes on for Eljif Elmas.
Substitution for Atalanta: Mario Pasalic comes on for Gianluca Gaetano.
Ajax wins a corner after Gianluca Gaetano concedes.
Ajax wins a corner after Raoul Bellanova concedes.
Attempt missed. Tolu Arokodare (Ajax) shoots with his right foot from the center of the box, but it goes too high. He was assisted by Julian Brandt after a corner.
Ajax have won a corner, conceded by Thomas Kristensen.
Ajax wins a corner after Davide Zappacosta concedes.
Éderson commits a foul for Atalanta.
Lucas Rosa from Ajax is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Atalanta is awarded a corner after Lucas Rosa concedes.
Eljif Elmas from Atalanta commits a handball.
Substitution for Atalanta: Nikola Krstovic comes on for Gianluca Scamacca.
Foul committed by Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta.
Youri Baas from Ajax is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Youri Baas from Ajax commits a foul.
Lazar Samardzic from Atalanta commits a foul.
Lazar SamardžićYellow CardLazar Samardzic of Atalanta receives a yellow card for a foul.
Youri Baas from Ajax is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Lucas Rosa (Ajax) takes a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it goes high and wide to the left. Jorthy Mokio provided the assist.
Substitution for Ajax: Tolu Arokodare comes on for Marcos Leonardo.
Attempt missed. Lazar Samardzic (Atalanta) took a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it went high and wide to the left. Raoul Bellanova assisted after a fast break.
Foul committed by Éderson of Atalanta.
Julian Brandt from Ajax wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Atalanta: Lazar Samardzic comes on for Charles De Ketelaere.
Substitution for Ajax: Viktor Tsygankov comes on for Davy Klaassen.
Substitution for Ajax: Abdellah Ouazane comes on for Oscar Gloukh.
Attempt blocked. Thomas Kristensen's header from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Nicola Zalewski's cross.
Gianluca Scamacca's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Thomas Kristensen from Atalanta has a left-footed shot from outside the box that goes wide to the right after a corner.
Atalanta wins a corner after Sofyan Amrabat concedes.
Atalanta wins a corner after Sofyan Amrabat concedes it.
Gianluca Scamacca from Atalanta misses a header from the center of the box, sending it to the left. Raoul Bellanova provided the assist with a cross.
Relja Obric from Atalanta is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Davy Klaassen from Ajax commits a foul.
Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Lucas Rosa of Ajax.
Attempt saved. Lucas Rosa from Ajax has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta saves it in the bottom right corner. The shot was assisted by Marcos Leonardo.
Offside called against Atalanta. Charles De Ketelaere is caught offside.
Ajax is called offside as Oscar Gloukh is caught in an offside position.
Attempt missed. Julian Brandt from Ajax heads the ball from the center of the box but misses to the left. Lucas Rosa provided the assist with a cross.
Attempt missed. Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta takes a right-footed shot from outside the box but it goes to the right. He was assisted by Charles De Ketelaere.
Attempt saved. Julian Brandt from Ajax has a left-footed shot from a tough angle on the left, but Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta saves it in the bottom left corner. Oscar Gloukh provided the assist.
The second half begins with the score Ajax 0, Atalanta 0.
The first half ends with Ajax and Atalanta tied at 0-0.
Attempt missed. Gianluca Gaetano from Atalanta takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box but it goes high and wide to the left. He was assisted by Davide Zappacosta.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 1 minute of added time.
Gianluca Scamacca from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sofyan AmrabatYellow CardSofyan Amrabat from Ajax receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul committed by Sofyan Amrabat of Ajax.
Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Davy Klaassen from Ajax commits a foul.
Attempt saved. Oscar Gloukh from Ajax has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta. The assist came from Julian Brandt.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Nicola Zalewski of Atalanta.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Gianluca Scamacca from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Aaron Bouwman of Ajax.
Owen Wijndal from Ajax misses a left-footed shot from outside the box, sending it to the right. He was assisted by Jorthy Mokio.
Atalanta is awarded a corner after Youri Baas concedes.
Attempt blocked. Jorthy Mokio from Ajax has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Davy Klaassen provided the assist.
Attempt saved. Oscar Gloukh from Ajax has a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta. The assist comes from Owen Wijndal.
Éderson's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Gianluca Scamacca provided the assist.
Attempt missed. Marcos Leonardo from Ajax has a right-footed shot from the center of the box that goes close but misses to the left. Lucas Rosa assisted after a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Eljif Elmas from Atalanta has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked, with an assist from Gianluca Scamacca.
Jorthy Mokio's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Julian Brandt.
Attempt saved. Jorthy Mokio from Ajax has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta saves it in the bottom left corner. The shot was assisted by Oscar Gloukh.
Ajax wins a corner after Relja Obric concedes.
Oscar Gloukh from Ajax has a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is blocked. He was assisted by Marcos Leonardo.
Sofyan Amrabat's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Lucas Rosa provided the assist.
Ajax win a corner after Relja Obric concedes.
Attempt missed. Oscar Gloukh (Ajax) has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that goes wide to the right. He was assisted by Owen Wijndal.
Ajax have been awarded a corner after Raoul Bellanova conceded it.
Attempt blocked. Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Charles De Ketelaere provided the assist.
Davy Klaassen of Ajax is caught offside.
Gianluca Gaetano from Atalanta misses a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, sending the ball to the left after a corner.
Gianluca Scamacca's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Eljif Elmas.
Atalanta wins a corner after Jorthy Mokio concedes.
Davy Klaassen from Ajax misses a header from the right side of the six-yard box, sending it close but to the left. He was assisted by Oscar Gloukh after a corner.
Atalanta earns a corner after Aaron Bouwman concedes.
Ajax wins a corner after Thomas Kristensen concedes.
Attempt missed. Jorthy Mokio's header from the center of the box goes to the left.
Davy Klaassen from Ajax misses a header from the center of the box, sending the ball to the left. The attempt was assisted by Owen Wijndal's cross.
Atalanta wins a corner after Lucas Rosa concedes.
Attempt missed. Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) heads the ball from the right side of the six-yard box, but it goes to the right. The cross was assisted by Nicola Zalewski following a corner.
Atalanta wins a corner after Sofyan Amrabat concedes.
Foul committed by Lucas Rosa of Ajax.
Lucas Rosa's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Nicola Zalewski from Atalanta wins a free kick in the defensive half.
First half begins.
