Míchel Sánchez boosts Ajax with Ter Stegen and halts Atalanta

At the Amsterdam Arena, Spanish coach Míchel Sánchez saw how his Ajax regained confidence after the defeat to Hajduk Split, when German goalkeeper Ter Stegen kept his goal unbeaten and the team beat Atalanta 2-0 thanks to two decisive substitutes.

Tactical change that changed the match

Míchel Sánchez decided to intervene in the second half, introducing two bench players. The changes altered the dynamics and gave the Dutch side the advantage it needed.

Tolu Arokodare, newly introduced, scored the first goal in the 87th minute, breaking the tie. A few minutes later, 17‑year‑old Abdellah Ouazane extended the lead with a second strike, assisted by Arokodare. With those two goals, Ajax secured its first points in Europe.

Atalanta tried to react and threatened to achieve a positive result in Amsterdam. However, Ajax's defence, led by Ter Stegen, neutralised their attempts. The Italian pressure failed to create clear chances.

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The Dutch side had dominated much of the match, maintaining the initiative, but struggled to translate that possession into clear opportunities. The lack of clarity in attack allowed Atalanta to stay competitive until the substitution.

On the other end, German goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen celebrated a performance without conceding any goals. His clean sheet was key for Ajax to finish a perfect night. The keeper's display put the defeat suffered against Hajduk Split behind.

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Journalist Fernando Gabarró of AJAX described the victory as a showcase of prestige against Atalanta. According to his notes, the win compensated for the season's early stumble. The report highlighted the importance of the substitutes and defensive solidity.