Juventus fought back with a brace of Amauri headers to conquer Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam!

Alberto Zaccheroni had one win and two draws from his Serie A career with Juve so far, but made his Europa League debut on their bench. David Trezeguet and Hasan Salihamidzic were only fit for the touchline, while Fabio Cannavaro and Mauro Camoranesi were injured. It was nominally a three-man defence, though Paolo De Ceglie often came back to help out.

This was the 11th meeting between the clubs and up until now the Bianconeri had won five and lost two. Ajax were much more aggressive from the get-go and Siem De Jong nodded wide.

The Dutch maestros took the lead after 16 minutes. Miralem Sulejmani went on the counter-attack and beat Gigi Buffon with a left-foot angled drive.

Juve tried to fight back, but headers from Giorgio Chiellini and Amauri were either off target or straight at the goalkeeper. Buffon dealt comfortably with De Jong and a Luis Suarez free kick.

The first real test for Maarten Stekelenburg was on 25 minutes, when Alessandro Del Piero threaded through to release Diego, but the Brazilian's strike was palmed out from under the bar.

Moments later Suarez had penalty appeals for an alleged Nicola Legrottaglie handling offence, while Buffon's great save on the same Ajax striker was futile, as play had already been stopped for a push on the defender.

Sulejmani also wanted a penalty for contact with Legrottaglie, but only earned himself a yellow card for simulation.

Juventus equalised just past the half-hour mark. Amauri ended his four-month goal drought at the weekend and promptly scored again in Amsterdam with his towering header from point-blank range meeting De Ceglie's cross. Del Piero had started the move with a smart nutmeg and backheel flick down the left channel.

Ajax fought back and went very close when Toby Alderweireld turned a Suarez corner just wide of the upright. He had been allowed a free header, as Felipe Melo lost his man.

The referee waved on more penalty appeals from Suarez for a tussle with Chiellini. In first half stoppages, Del Piero flashed a free kick across the face of goal.

Former Ajax player Zdenek Grygera replaced Zebina after the restart, but straight away Urby Emanuelson drilled a left-foot shot wide from the edge of the box.

Juventus managed to turn the game around completely in Amsterdam with a second valuable away goal. Amauri was again on target, steering Del Piero's cross from the left into the bottom corner with a precise header.

To make matters worse for Ajax, Suarez got himself booked and will be suspended for the second leg. De Jong flashed a fierce long-range blockbuster just past the post in what was so nearly a classic goal.

Gregory Van der Wiel fired over and Buffon had to punch a Suarez snapshot out from under the crossbar. At the other end, Stekelenburg rushed out to close down Del Piero as he ran on to Legrottaglie's long ball.

Zaccheroni made a tactical switch, introducing Hasan Salihamidzic for Amauri, so Diego became the second striker alongside Del Piero.

De Jong flashed another header across the goalline from Van der Wiel's corner kick.

On 77 minutes the Ajax siege hit fever pitch, as the dangerous De Jong's powerful right-foot volley beat Buffon to end its journey on the base of the upright.

Trezeguet made his comeback with his first appearance since spraining his ankle on January 6. He barely got to see the ball, though, as Juve were pinned back into their own half defending the 2-1 lead in the final minutes.

Del Piero broke the siege with a cheeky free kick, but did not take Stekelenburg by surprise.

Salihamidzic did not help matters when he saw red in stoppages for a very high tackle on De Jong.

Ajax: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Oleguer, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; De Zeuww, Eyong Enoh (Suk 86), De Jong; Suarez, Sulejmani (Rommedahl 80), Emanuelson (Eriksen 72)

Juventus: Buffon; Zebina (Grygera 46), Legrottaglie, Chiellini; Marchisio, Felipe Melo, Sissoko, De Ceglie; Diego (Trezeguet 80); Amauri (Salihamidzic 71), Del Piero

Ref: Bebek (Cro)

Sent off: Salihamidzic 92 (J)