Daley Blind and Steven Berghuis returned to full-group training with Ajax on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, but are unavailable against Atalanta. Head coach Míchel Sánchez confirmed that Thursday's UEFA Conference League league-phase Matchday 2 fixture, on 22 October, comes too soon for both players. Atalanta, meanwhile, named a 22-man travelling squad without eight players who were still receiving treatment or following recovery programmes.
The fixture takes place at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam at 21:00 local time (CEST, UTC+2), which is 16:00 in Brasília (UTC-3). The squad information in this preview reflects announcements published through 21 October, ahead of the release of the official starting line-ups.
Who returned to training, and who is available for Ajax vs Atalanta?
Ajax's 21 October training update separates two different stages: rejoining group activities and being selected for a competitive match. Blind and Berghuis have reached the first stage, but the club explicitly ruled them out of the squad against Atalanta. That status was confirmed after Wednesday's session and Sánchez's pre-match media conference.
| Player or group | Status confirmed on 21 October | Availability on 22 October |
|---|---|---|
| Daley Blind (Ajax) | Returned to group training following rehabilitation | Not in the squad, Ajax confirmed |
| Steven Berghuis (Ajax) | Returned to group training following rehabilitation | Not in the squad, Ajax confirmed |
| Franck Kessié, Sead Kolašinac, Odilon Kossounou, Giacomo Raspadori and Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta) | Receiving treatment, according to the Italian club | Absent from the 22-man squad |
| Isak Hien, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Thomas Pompei (Atalanta) | Gym and on-pitch work as part of their recovery | Absent from the 22-man squad |
Being at the training ground, on the pitch or even taking part in group exercises does not establish match fitness. Equally, a place in the matchday squad does not make someone a starter: the starting XI can be confirmed only through the official line-up for the fixture.
What did Míchel Sánchez say about Blind and Berghuis?
Speaking through Ajax's official channels on 21 October, Sánchez welcomed the pair's return to group work while explaining that both remain in the final stages of rehabilitation. He expressed hope that they might be available for forthcoming fixtures, potentially on Sunday, 25 October, or the following week. That is a projection, not advance medical clearance or a guarantee of selection.
Ajax next face Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch league on Sunday, 25 October. Whether Blind or Berghuis can be involved will depend on a subsequent assessment and matchday selection, rather than the simple fact that they trained on Wednesday.
Why is Zinchenko's situation different?
Oleksandr Zinchenko was also at Ajax's De Toekomst training complex on 21 October, but for a separate reason. Ajax stated that the Ukrainian, currently without a club, had been allowed to finish the final phase of his rehabilitation at the facility. This does not mean he has rejoined Ajax's senior squad or become available for the Conference League. His presence should not be confused with the reintegration of players who already belong to Sánchez's team.
What is Atalanta's squad situation ahead of Amsterdam?
Atalanta published Maurizio Sarri's list of 22 selected players on 21 October. It includes Marco Carnesecchi, Charles De Ketelaere, Éderson, Mario Pašalić and Gianluca Scamacca, alongside younger players included in the travelling party. The club's list, also independently reported by SportMediaset, identifies those called up and does not constitute a starting line-up.
In the same statement, Atalanta said Kessié, Kolašinac, Kossounou, Raspadori and Scalvini had undergone treatment, while Hien, Sulemana and Pompei had worked both in the gym and on the pitch. None of the eight appears on the 22-man squad list. A 20 October club report had also described recovery work. Seeing a player training outdoors, therefore, does not establish that he travelled or was cleared to play.
What is at stake in league-phase Matchday 2?
Ajax opened their league phase with a 2-1 away defeat to Hajduk Split on 15 October. Atalanta began with a 3-1 win over Pafos. The Dutch club are therefore seeking their first points, while the Italian side aim to build on their opening result. Both scores and the fixture identity are documented in UEFA's official 2026/27 competition schedule.
The key team-news distinction is straightforward: Blind and Berghuis trained but are not selected; Atalanta have also left eight recovering players out of their squad. A training observation must not be turned into a predicted XI, match-result forecast or definitive return date. The final selection of starters and substitutes depends on official team announcements closer to kick-off.
Editorial cut-off: information available on 21 October 2026, before Ajax vs Atalanta on 22 October 2026. Squad lists and fitness updates may subsequently change.
Sources and references
- UEFA: 2026/27 league-phase fixtures and results
- Ajax: 21 October training and Blind/Berghuis availability
- Ajax: Míchel Sánchez's pre-match comments
- Atalanta: official 22-player squad and training update
- Atalanta: 20 October training and recovery report
- SportMediaset: independent reporting on Atalanta's squad
- Ajax: official fixture list, including Sparta away on 25 October
