Ajax host Atalanta at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday, October 22, in Matchday 2 of the Europa Conference League. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time. Both teams scored in their opening matches, but their results could hardly have been more different: Ajax lost 2-1 away to Hajduk Split, while Atalanta beat Pafos 3-1. Ajax are 26th in the competition rankings and Atalanta are fourth, giving the hosts an early result to chase. Recent domestic matches add another dimension to this Ajax vs Atalanta preview: Ajax responded to their defeat with a five-goal win, whereas Atalanta arrive after a third successive away loss.

Ajax's Recent Form and Key Stats

Ajax's 2-1 defeat at Hajduk Split left them without a win for a third consecutive match. They struggled to create clear-cut chances in that Conference League fixture, but produced a much stronger attacking result on October 18, winning 5-2 away to FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. That response gives them a more encouraging lead-in to their first home match of this stage.

Across their last five matches, Ajax have recorded two wins, two draws and one defeat, scoring an average of 2.8 goals and conceding 1.6 per game. Their supplied Europa Conference League season record stands at five wins, one draw and one loss, with averages of 3.3 goals scored and 1.7 conceded. Those figures underline their scoring output, although the goal conceded in Split and the two conceded against Groningen show why defensive security remains part of the discussion ahead of Thursday.

The Johan Cruijff Arena has generally been a productive setting for Ajax this term. They have drawn their last two home games, yet have lost only one of eight home matches across all competitions. Goals have also been a consistent feature of their wider schedule: Ajax have scored in each of their last 16 matches, and all 16 featured more than 1.5 total goals. At least one first-half goal has been scored in each of their last 12 matches. Those runs refer to Ajax's matches as a whole, rather than suggesting that every goal was scored by the home side.

Atalanta's Recent Form and Key Stats

Atalanta began this stage with a convincing 3-1 home victory over Pafos, scoring all three of their goals before half-time. They finished that match with 65% possession, 3.02 expected goals, six big chances, 35 touches in the opposition box and 20 shots. It was an emphatic attacking display and put them fourth in the Europa Conference League rankings ahead of their visit to Ajax.

Their broader Conference League season record is two wins and one draw from three matches, with averages of 1.3 goals scored and 0.3 conceded. Their most recent result was less encouraging: a 3-2 defeat away to AC Milan on October 18. Atalanta have now lost three consecutive away games, conceding at least twice in each defeat. That away sequence presents a contrast with their low goals-conceded average in the competition.

Over their last five matches in all competitions, Atalanta have two wins and three defeats, averaging 1.8 goals both scored and conceded per game. They therefore travel with evidence of attacking potential from the Pafos match, but also with a recent run of away results that Ajax will hope to exploit. Keeping the hosts out would end a pattern that has followed Atalanta through each of their last three trips.

Ajax vs Atalanta Match Analysis

The contrast between Ajax's home record and Atalanta's recent away form is central to this Europa Conference League meeting. Ajax have suffered just one home defeat in eight games this term and have scored in 16 straight matches. Atalanta, meanwhile, have conceded two or more in each of three successive away defeats. Ajax did not create many clear openings against Hajduk Split, so their five-goal response at Groningen is especially relevant as they look to improve on their Matchday 1 performance.

There is also reason to expect a test for the Ajax defence. Atalanta scored three first-half goals against Pafos and still found the net twice in their defeat to AC Milan. Ajax have conceded an average of 1.6 goals across their last five matches, while their Europa Conference League season average is 1.7 conceded. Both sides enter this game having scored in each of their two most recent results, even though neither arrives with an entirely convincing defensive record across those fixtures.

The head-to-head record is limited: from Ajax's perspective, the supplied summary shows no wins, one draw and one defeat, with averages of 1.0 goal scored and 1.5 conceded. The most recent meeting ended 0-1 on December 9, 2020. More immediate evidence lies in Ajax's long scoring run and Atalanta's combination of a strong opening European win and recent away concessions. Those factors point to chances at both ends without making either team's result a certainty.

Ajax vs Atalanta prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (Yes) with 58% probability.