Conference League Line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta: Scamacca Leads Depleted Dea in Amsterdam

FolioPitch.com – 23 October 2026 | The Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta have been confirmed for Thursday night’s League Phase Matchday 2 clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with both sides forced to field patched-up starting elevens due to extensive injury crises. Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri has handed a first senior start to teenage defender Relja Obric, while Ajax boss Michel has named former Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the posts.

Atalanta arrive in Amsterdam after a turbulent run of form. La Dea had seemingly found their rhythm following a change of system, securing 3-1 victories over Venezia in Serie A and Pafos in their Conference League opener. However, that momentum was halted on Sunday when they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Milan at San Siro. Now they face a prestigious trip to the Dutch capital, a venue where they famously won 1-0 in December 2020 during their Champions League campaign.

The Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta reveal the scale of Atalanta’s selection problems. Sead Kolasinac has joined Giorgio Scalvini, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou, Franck Kessie, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Giacomo Raspadori on the treatment table. With almost all of those absentees being defenders, Sarri’s alternatives are severely limited, forcing the promotion of youth team player Obric just days after his senior debut.

Gianluca Scamacca leads the Atalanta attack, supported by Eljif Elmas, Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski. Gianluca Gaetano steps into midfield alongside Ederson. Scamacca is no stranger to Dutch football, having spent time at PSV Eindhoven and PEC Zwolle earlier in his career. Marco Carnesecchi starts in goal, with Davide Zappacosta, Raoul Bellanova and Thomas Kristensen completing a makeshift back line.

Ajax, meanwhile, are enduring a general malaise that has seen the Dutch giants drop into the Conference League. Their campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split, though they ended a month-long wait for a victory by beating FC Groningen 5-2 at the weekend. The Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta show that Michel is also dealing with a significant injury crisis, with Daley Blind, Steven Berghuis, Oliver Edvardsen, Caio Henrique, Simon Adingra, Anton Gaaei and Kasper Dolberg all ruled out. Yves Bissouma is not on the UEFA list.

Ter Stegen, on loan from Barcelona, starts in goal behind a defence featuring Lucas Rosa, Aaron Bouwman, Youri Baas and Owen Wijndal. Former Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat anchors the midfield alongside Jorthy Mokio, with Julian Brandt, Davy Klaassen and Oscar Gloukh operating ahead of them. Marcos Leonardo gets the nod as the central striker, having competed with Tolu Arokodare for the role.

The match statistics underlined Ajax’s dominance on the night. The hosts enjoyed 61 percent possession and registered 21 total shots compared to Atalanta’s 15, though the visitors managed seven shots on target to Ajax’s seven. Ajax also led in corners (8-9) and offsides (2-1), while fouls were level at eight apiece. The Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta ultimately produced a 2-0 victory for the home side.

Ajax broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time through Sofyan Amrabat’s 45th-minute strike. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 86th minute when Tolu Arokodare, who had replaced Marcos Leonardo on 66 minutes, found the net with an assist from Youri Baas. Atalanta made changes of their own, introducing Lazar Samardzic, Nikola Krstovic, Mario Pasalic and Jonathan Rowe in the second half, but they could not find a way back into the contest. Abdellah Ouazane added a third for Ajax in the 87th minute, assisted by Arokodare, before Marc ter Stegen was shown a yellow card in stoppage time.

The Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta highlighted the depth issues facing both clubs. For Atalanta, the defeat leaves them with work to do in the League Phase, while Ajax will take confidence from a convincing home performance. Sarri’s side must now regroup quickly as they look to recover from a second consecutive loss in all competitions. The Italian club’s injury list remains a major concern, with the defence particularly stretched. Ajax, meanwhile, will hope this result signals a turning point in their season as they aim to climb the Conference League standings.

In conclusion, the Conference League line-ups Ajax vs Atalanta told the story of two giants grappling with adversity. Ajax’s superior possession and clinical finishing proved decisive, while Atalanta’s patched-up defence and lack of cutting edge in front of goal cost them dearly. Both managers will now turn their attention to domestic matters, but the European campaign remains a priority. The return fixture promises to be equally intriguing, with Atalanta eager to avenge this defeat and Ajax determined to build on a morale-boosting win.