Inter Milan started their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League marketing campaign with a assured 2-0 victory over Ajax in Amsterdam, because of a decisive brace from Marcus Thuram, Softfootball experiences.
Coming from their 4-3 slim defeat to Juventus final Sunday, Inter made a daring assertion as they returned to successful methods, scoring two quickfire objectives.
Into the sport, Inter, final season’s finalists, have been additionally with out Lautaro Martínez as a consequence of health considerations, giving 20-year-old Pio Esposito an opportunity up entrance alongside Thuram. In the meantime, the younger Italian might solely make three key passes all through 90 minutes.
The primary half supplied little when it comes to probabilities till the thirty fourth minute, when controversy struck. Referee Michael Oliver awarded Inter a penalty after Youri Baas tangled with Thuram, however VAR overturned the choice, displaying that Thuram had initiated the foul. Minutes later, Ajax almost took the lead when Mika Godts raced clear one-on-one, solely to fireside a tame shot at Yann Sommer.
Inter punished Ajax immediately. From Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s nook within the forty second minute, Thuram rose highest to go residence the opener.
Simply after the break, historical past repeated itself as Thuram struck once more, this time powering in one other header from a Çalhanoğlu supply to make it 2-0.
Right here is the spotlight of the second purpose from GoalsXtra on their X deal with:
From then on, Inter managed proceedings, whereas Ajax lacked the standard to threaten. Their first significant try got here as late because the 69th minute, earlier than substitute Kasper Dolberg squandered a golden likelihood within the closing phases, heading over an empty internet.
Cristian Chivu’s males closed out the competition with ease, securing three factors and underlining their ambitions of one other deep run within the competitors. Inter now turns its focus to Slavia Prague at San Siro, whereas Ajax should regroup forward of a vital journey to Marseille.
