Atalanta versus Ajax was everything neutrals hoped it would be.The two free-scoring sides came face-to-face in the Champions League tonight and played out a hugely entertaining 2-2 draw in Bergamo.Fresh from their 13-0 win over VVV-Venlo on the weekend, Ajax stormed into a 2-0 lead in Italy thanks to goals from Dusan Tadic and Lassina Traore.Atalanta came back strong in the second half and had the score level by the 60th-minute thanks to a quick-fire brace from Duvan Zapata.Both sides had chances to win the game late on, but neither team could strike for a third time to seal the three points.
It was a game that was dominated by the array of attacking stars on show, most notably Ajax winger Antony Matheus dos Santos.The Brazilian was signed from Sao Paolo this summer and has hit the ground running with the Dutch side in 2020/21, scoring four goals in his first six Eredivisie games.But the 20-year-old's game is about far more than just finding the back of the net, as he demonstrated against Atalanta.Antony went viral across social media tonight after producing some stunning pieces of skill, including one of the most savage nutmegs you will see in any form of the game.
Antony's nutmeg
Antony wasn't done there, though. Later on in the match, the Brazilian starlet embarrassed another Atalanta player by nonchalantly flicking the ball over their head with his heel.
Antony's beautiful heel flick
Looks like Ajax have already found their replacement for Hakim Ziyech...
Antony completed 18 final third passes, had four shots on target, won three tackles and made two key passes against Atalanta, a complete performance from the fleet-footed forward.
Sadly, the Brazilian did have to be stretchered off late on in the game with a suspected knee injury following a rather rough tackle.
We hope the 20-year-old is back dazzling football fans across the world as soon as possible.