Spanish coach Míchel Sánchez’s Ajax avenged their opening‑day stumble against Hajduk Split with a classy 2‑0 triumph over Atalanta. The Vallecano‑born manager turned to the bench in the closing stages, deploying two impact subs to break down the Italian side, while keeper Marc‑Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet.
The Dutch side dominated large stretches but struggled to convert pressure into clear chances. Atalanta held firm, even threatening a positive result in Amsterdam, until Míchel’s halftime tweak reshaped the game.
A gamble paid off in the 87th minute when substitute Tolu Arokodare seized the lead for Ajax. Minutes later, 17‑year‑old Abdellah Ouazane doubled the advantage, capitalising on Arokodare’s assist. Those two changes proved decisive for securing the first European points. For my money, the bench’s impact was the match’s defining factor.
Ter Stegen also celebrated, posting a shut‑out that helped Ajax cap a flawless night and move past the Split loss. Can Ajax sustain this momentum and challenge deeper into the competition?