Ajax Face a Rebuilding Atalanta in Crucial Conference League Test
Ajax have little time to dwell on their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split. The Amsterdam club now face another demanding assignment in the Conference League, with Atalanta visiting the Johan Cruyff ArenA. The Italian side arrive with a reputation built on recent European success, but they are also navigating a period of change after the departure of long-time coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
For Ajax, the fixture offers an early chance to respond and strengthen their position in the league phase. For Atalanta, it is an opportunity to show that a new football project can carry the club forward. To understand what may await the hosts, Voetbalzone spoke with journalist Fabio Gennari, who closely follows Atalanta for outlets including Prima Bergamo.
Atalanta’s Post-Gasperini Transition
Atalanta’s modern rise is closely associated with Gasperini, now the head coach of AS Roma. During his nine-year spell in Bergamo, from 2016 to 2025, he transformed a modest Serie A club into a regular challenger for European qualification. The team’s progress reached a landmark when it qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history, with Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon playing an important role.
The high point came in May 2024, when Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final in Dublin. The victory delivered the club’s first major European trophy and appeared to confirm the success of Gasperini’s ambitious, attacking style. His departure soon afterwards, however, left Atalanta facing the difficult task of replacing a coach who had shaped the club’s identity for almost a decade.
The first attempt did not last long. Croatian coach Ivan Juric was appointed as Gasperini’s successor, but results and relationships deteriorated. Atalanta slipped into the middle of the Serie A standings, while Juric’s tenure was also marked by a heated disagreement with forward Ademola Lookman during a Champions League match against Marseille. The pair reportedly had to be separated, and the club dismissed Juric after only a few months.
Sarri Takes Charge as the Club Looks to Stabilise
Atalanta then turned to Raffaele Palladino, who guided the team to sixth place in Serie A and a place in the Conference League. His side also reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals, although Bayern Munich proved too strong in the Champions League last 16, winning 6-1 in the first leg and 4-1 in the return match.
Despite the heavy aggregate defeat, Palladino defended his team’s attacking approach. He said he would make the same choices again, arguing that the willingness to take risks had helped Atalanta compete strongly in the league and cup. The club nevertheless chose not to continue with him for a second season, appointing experienced Italian coach Maurizio Sarri instead.
Sarri, 67, has managed several prominent clubs, including Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea and Lazio. His challenge is to bring greater consistency to a team still adjusting to life after Gasperini. Atalanta lost 3-2 away to AC Milan on Sunday, but Gennari believes the scoreline does not fully reflect the team’s recent performances.
“Atalanta are currently in good form,” he said, pointing to the chances created in their last three matches. The team scored nine goals and produced enough opportunities to have scored several more, although defensive improvements remain necessary. In Gennari’s view, the direction is encouraging, but Sarri will need time to establish his ideas.
Scamacca Offers a Familiar Threat
Ajax will also need to account for Gianluca Scamacca, a powerful centre-forward with a connection to Dutch football. The 1.95-metre striker began his professional development at PSV before gaining experience in Italy and England and spending a short period on loan at PEC Zwolle. Atalanta signed him in 2023 as a potential replacement for Rasmus Højlund, who had moved to Manchester United.
Scamacca’s form has not always been consistent, but Gennari considers him an increasingly mature and influential player. The striker recently scored for Italy in the Nations League and found the net against Pafos in the Conference League. He could have added further goals in that match, underlining both his finishing ability and his capacity to get into dangerous positions.
Atalanta began their European campaign with a 3-1 win over Pafos, with Scamacca scoring shortly before half-time. That result gives Sarri’s side a positive platform, even as their league position remains modest following the loss at San Siro. The club’s immediate priorities, Gennari says, are to secure European qualification and progress as far as possible in the Conference League while building a stable foundation for the new coaching project.
Ajax and Atalanta: A Brief but Competitive History
The clubs have met only once before in European competition, during the 2020-21 season. Ajax raced into a 2-0 lead in Bergamo but had to settle for a 2-2 draw. At the Johan Cruyff ArenA, Atalanta then claimed a narrow 1-0 victory. The upcoming match gives Ajax a chance to reverse that result, although the Italian visitors are unlikely to approach the fixture without confidence.
Gennari says Atalanta respect Ajax but are not intimidated by them. That distinction could matter in a league phase where every point carries weight. Unlike the Champions League format, the Conference League league phase includes six matches rather than eight, leaving less room to recover from a poor result. A defeat or draw can quickly complicate a club’s route to the next round.
Football Prediction: What Could Decide the Match?
Ajax arrive after a 5-2 win over FC Groningen, a result that may provide a useful boost after their loss to Hajduk Split. However, one high-scoring domestic performance does not automatically resolve the defensive and consistency concerns that can surface against stronger European opposition. Atalanta, meanwhile, have shown that they can create chances in volume, even when their finishing or defensive organisation is not yet reliable.
The key contest may be between Ajax’s ability to control possession and Atalanta’s willingness to attack space quickly. If the hosts allow the visitors to build momentum or leave gaps behind their defence, Scamacca and Atalanta’s other forwards could make them pay. Ajax will need to combine patience in possession with sharper protection against counterattacks.
Any football prediction should account for the uncertainty surrounding both teams. Ajax have home advantage and will be eager to respond, while Atalanta’s recent attacking output suggests they can threaten throughout the match. The visitors may not yet have the settled identity they enjoyed under Gasperini, but their quality and European experience make them a serious opponent.
For Atalanta, the trip to Amsterdam is another step in a longer rebuilding process. For Ajax, it is a chance to turn frustration into a result and show that their Conference League campaign can still gather momentum. With both sides seeking a response, the Johan Cruyff ArenA could host a lively contest in which defensive discipline may prove just as important as attacking ambition.
