AFC Ajax will face a severely depleted Atalanta side in the Conference League on Thursday evening. The Italian team is missing eight players, including defender Sead Kolasinac, forcing coach Maurizio Sarri to potentially field a wingback in central defence.
Kolasinac's injury, sustained in a 3-2 loss to AC Milan, leaves Atalanta with only one fit central defender, Thomas Kristensen. Sarri stated he has never experienced such a situation in his long coaching career. "Zo'n situatie heb ik niet eerder meegemaakt," the manager said. He added that he will focus on the available players and that they will play with eleven men. Davide Zappacosta is an option to bolster the heart of the defence.
The absences severely limit Atalanta's options. Alongside Kolasinac, Franck Kessié, Giorgio Scalvini, Giacomo Raspadori, Odilon Kossounou, Isak Hien, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Thomas Pompei are also unavailable. The 20-year-old Relja Obric did make his first-team debut as a substitute against Milan.
For Ajax, this fixture comes as the team sits fourth in the Eredivisie with 18 points from nine games, having recorded five wins, three draws and one loss. They have scored 27 goals and conceded 12. Their last result was a 5-2 win at Groningen, where Julian Brandt scored twice and Jorthy Mokio also netted a brace. In their last five league matches, Ajax have two wins, two draws and one defeat. The next league match is away to Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday 25 October, a side currently in 13th place. Top scorer Julian Brandt has six goals in nine appearances this season. Ajax's current squad is listed on our squad page.
It is the first meeting between Ajax and Atalanta since an encounter in the Champions League six years ago. Sarri has previously studied the successful Ajax side of the 1970s and the development of Johan Cruyff at FC Barcelona. The match at the Johan Cruijff Arena kicks off at 21:00.
The report in full is at Voetbal International
