Thanks to a great performance at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, the Nerazzurri qualify for the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League round of 16. Atalanta beat Ajax 1-0 and finish second in Group D on 11 points, two points behind Liverpool. Muriel scored a late winner.
It was a very even game, as expected given the importance of the stakes. The first chance came after nineteen minutes with Zapata laid it off on the edge for de Roon who fired wide with his left foot. On 34 a tricky free-kick from Gomez tested Onana, but Romero was caught offside. Before half-time, in the third minute of stoppages, Ajax tested Gollini, but Brobbey’s header was weak and straight at him.
In the second half the balance remained, Martinez in the 61st minute was very good at intercepting Pessina’s cross for Zapata and deflecting out for a corner, then on 66 Mazraoui was the one to make a clearance. On 75, however, Ajax had a great chance with Klaassen in front of Gollini, who amazingly parried wit his foot. On 79 the hosts went down to ten: Gravenberch caught Papu in the face with a raised arm and that costed the Dutch midfielder a second yellow card. Ajax still pushed forward looking for a goal, but in the 85th minute a ball recovered by Freuler triggered Muriel, who had just come off the bench, who skipped past the goalkeeper and sealed the win that is worth the qualification. For the second year running, Atalanta progress from the group stage, another fantastic page in the history of the club has been written in Amsterdam.
85'
|
0 - 1 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Goals scored | 1 |
| 9 | Total attempts | 5 |
| 2 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 7 | Shots off target | 4 |
| 0 | Penalties | 0 |
| 5 | Assists | 4 |
| 7 | Crosses | 8 |
| 6 | Corners | 4 |
| 3 | Decisive interventions | 3 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
| 3 | Offsides | 3 |
| 0 | Saves | 2 |
| 5 | Substitutions | 2 |
| 0 | Hit woodwork | 0 |
| Shirt number | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Rafael Toloi | Difensore |
| 6 | José Luis Palomino | Difensore |
| 9 | Luis Muriel | Attaccante |
| 15 | Marten de Roon | Centrocampista |
| 19 | Berat Djimsiti | Difensore |
| 22 | Matteo Ruggeri | Centrocampista |
| 31 | Francesco Rossi | Portiere |
| 33 | Hans Hateboer | Centrocampista |
| 91 | Duván Zapata | Attaccante |
