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.
AJAX 0-1 ATALANTA
Scorer: Muriel 85 (At)
Ajax: Onana, Mazraoui, Schuurs, Martinez (Timber 92, Alvarez 96), Tagliafico (Huntelaar 64), Klaassen, Labyad (Ekkelenkamp 64), Gravenberch, Antony, Brobbey (Promes 46), Tadic. Bench: Stekeleneburg, Kotarski, Klaiber, Rensch. Coach: Erik ten Hag.
Atalanta: Gollini, Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti, Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler, Gosens (Palomino 79), Pessina, Gomez, Zapata (Muriel 79). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Lammers, Malinovskyi, Piccini, Mojica, Depaoli, Ruggeri, Panada, Iličić. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP).
Assistants: Juan Carlos Yuste (ESP) and Roberto Alonso Fernandez (ESP).
Fourth official: Georgi Kabakov (BUL).
V.A.R.: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP).
A.V.A.R.: Xavier Estrada Fernandez (ESP).
Notes: Gravenberch 79 (AJ) sent off, Tagliafico (AJ), Hateboer (At), Freuler (At) booked.
