Inter Milan carved out a 2-0 win over Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night, opening their Champions League campaign in style after a shaky start in Serie A. Marcus Thuram was the difference maker, scoring with two brilliant headers – one on the cusp of halftime and another just after the break – each delivered from Hakan Çalhanoğlu corners.
This victory will offer Inter renewed confidence. After losses to Udinese and Juventus, the Nerazzurri were under pressure heading into this clash.
For Ajax, returning to Europe’s top competition after a three-year absence, this match marked not just their first in the group stage but also their 500th game in European club competition – a landmark night spoiled by a lack of clinical finishing and a staunch Inter defence.
From the outset Inter showed their intent. Despite less possession overall, they were dangerous from set pieces and swift on transitions.
Thuram came close early on, his first real chance just missing the target. When a possible penalty was awarded following an entanglement between Thuram and Ajax’s Youri Baas, it was overturned by VAR when replay showed Thuram had tugged Baas’s shirt first. Inter’s frustration at lost chances did not last long.
Just before half-time in the 42nd minute, Çalhanoğlu whipped in a corner that found Thuram at the near post. He rose above the Ajax defence and nodded home a powerful header to give Inter the lead. It was a blow for Ajax, who had begun looking more dangerous in the previous ten minutes and momentarily threatened to seize control. The goal shifted momentum.
Prima giornata, prima vittoria
BRAVI NERAZZURRI #ForzaInter #UCL #AjaxInter pic.twitter.com/JSJU6Nobh7— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) September 17, 2025
Inter came out of the break aggressively and were rewarded almost immediately. Two minutes into the second half the relationship between corner taker and aerial threat repeated itself.
Another corner from Çalhanoğlu, and again Thuram rose highest, sending a header into the far corner, doubling Inter’s lead and putting clear daylight between the sides. The timing was critical – that early second-half strike gave Inter a cushion that allowed them to weather any Ajax revival.
Ajax’s best moment came in the 40th minute when Mika Godts beat the offside trap and had a one-on-one with Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The veteran shot-stopper rushed off his line and made a crucial save, denying Ajax what might have been a morale-boosting equaliser. They continued to press after that but failed to create sustained danger.
Inter’s defence stood firm. They were tested at times, particularly in the first half, but Sommer and the backline kept Ajax at bay. The visitors also complemented their defensive effort with discipline in midfield and wide areas, preventing Ajax from dominating as they might have wished in front of their home crowd. Inter’s ability to manage the game in the final 30 minutes proved decisive, as Ajax threw forward numbers but could not find the finishing touch.
Manager Cristian Chivu, making his touchline return to Amsterdam—but this time with the Nerazzurri jersey—opted for a 3-5-2 formation, in which Francesco Pio Esposito partnered Thuram up front after Lautaro Martínez missed out through a back complaint.
Esposito showed promise in his Champions League debut, linking play well and creating space even without finding the net. Chivu later said the formation and game plan were intended to disrupt Ajax’s rhythm while harnessing Inter’s strength in set-pieces and aerial duels.
Thuram’s double takes on added significance given the pressure he has been under recently. With Inter expected to contend for top honours, both domestically and in Europe, consistency and moments of individual decisiveness like these are needed.
After the match Stefan de Vrij, Inter’s central defender, spoke of the relief the win brings. “It was crucial to get the win and get results after two tough defeats,” he said. “We performed well. But we need to improve still. We did well today to take the lead and read the game … we won without suffering too much.”