Ajax will be welcoming last season’s finalist, Inter, to the Johan Cruijff Arena on Wednesday for their first Champions League showpiece.
Softfootball understands that the confirmed line-up for both teams has been released ahead of tonight’s clash.
Ajax, also adjusting to change with John Heitinga at the helm, are missing key players too. Steven Berghuis and Branco van den Boomen are both ruled out, forcing Oliver Edvardsen to shift into an unfamiliar role on the right flank.
Mike Godts and Wout Weghorst will be leading Ajax’s attack as Softfootball predicted ahead of the game.
Domestically, Ajax have made a solid start, winning all three of their home fixtures and drawing both away games in the Eredivisie.
However, history is against them in this matchup: they have not beaten Inter since their famous 2-0 victory in the 1972 European Cup Final, with one draw and three defeats since.
Here is the confirmed line-up as released on Ajax’s official X handle:
Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s season continues under a cloud as new coach Cristian Chivu looks to rebuild confidence after a turbulent start. The Nerazzurri are still haunted by the heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League final and have since slumped to back-to-back Serie A losses against Udinese and Juventus. To compound matters, captain Lautaro Martinez is struggling with a back injury and is not risked, leaving academy product Sebastiano Esposito to partner Marcus Thuram in attack in a 3-5-2 setup.
Thuram has created either a goal or an assist in all his games for Inter this season, registering a total of three goals, including a consolation in Inter’s slim 4-3 defeat to Juventus.
New signing Manuel Akanji makes only his second appearance since arriving from Manchester City, while Bastoni keeps his place despite suggestions of rotation. Yann Sommer, under pressure following recent criticism, continues as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Inter have also shared on their official X handle their arrival at the Johan Cruijff stadium for the clash.
Here is the snippet shared:
Official line-ups:
Ajax: Jaros; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Taylor, Regeer; Edvardsen, Weghorst, Godts.
Inter: Sommer; Akanji, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Esposito, Thuram.
