Inter Milan began their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a confident 2-0 victory over Ajax in Amsterdam, thanks to a decisive brace from Marcus Thuram, Softfootball reports.
Coming from their 4-3 slim defeat to Juventus last Sunday, Inter made a bold statement as they returned to winning ways, scoring two quickfire goals.
Into the game, Inter, last season’s finalists, were also without Lautaro Martínez due to fitness concerns, giving 20-year-old Pio Esposito a chance up front alongside Thuram. Meanwhile, the young Italian could only make three key passes throughout 90 minutes.
The first half offered little in terms of chances until the 34th minute, when controversy struck. Referee Michael Oliver awarded Inter a penalty after Youri Baas tangled with Thuram, but VAR overturned the decision, showing that Thuram had initiated the foul. Minutes later, Ajax nearly took the lead when Mika Godts raced clear one-on-one, only to fire a tame shot at Yann Sommer.
Inter punished Ajax instantly. From Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s corner in the 42nd minute, Thuram rose highest to head home the opener.
Just after the break, history repeated itself as Thuram struck again, this time powering in another header from a Çalhanoğlu delivery to make it 2-0.
Here is the highlight of the second goal from GoalsXtra on their X handle:
From then on, Inter controlled proceedings, while Ajax lacked the quality to threaten. Their first meaningful attempt came as late as the 69th minute, before substitute Kasper Dolberg squandered a golden chance in the closing stages, heading over an empty net.
Cristian Chivu’s men closed out the contest with ease, securing three points and underlining their ambitions of another deep run in the competition. Inter now turns its focus to Slavia Prague at San Siro, while Ajax must regroup ahead of a crucial trip to Marseille.
