Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: BetUS
Four-time European champions Ajax begin their latest Champions League adventure on Wednesday evening, hosting last season’s runners-up Inter Milan at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The Dutch giants arrive unbeaten in the early stages of 2025-26, while Inter make the trip to Amsterdam after back-to-back domestic defeats. Both clubs are still recovering from painful late-season collapses last term, which denied them silverware.
Ajax
Ajax endured a dramatic downfall under Francesco Farioli last season. Having gone nine points clear of PSV at the end of March, they froze under pressure and surrendered the Eredivisie title, compounding disappointment with a Europa League exit at the last-16 stage and another year without the KNVB Beker. It is now three years since the Amsterdammers last lifted a major trophy.
The board reacted by bringing back John Heitinga, a club stalwart who had previously filled in as interim boss before coaching roles at West Ham and Liverpool. The 41-year-old has steadied the ship so far, guiding Ajax to three straight home wins and two away draws, most recently a 3-1 success over PEC Zwolle.
Now they embark on the Champions League league phase, hoping to better their poor recent record. Since reaching the semi-finals in 2019, Ajax have only progressed past the group stage once in four attempts. Wednesday’s opener carries historical weight too, as it repeats the 1972 European Cup final, when Ajax defeated Inter in Rotterdam.
However, the Dutch side are winless in four subsequent Champions League meetings with the Nerazzurri, losing three.
Team News
Heitinga has close to a full squad, with only Branco van den Boomen sidelined by a back injury. Wout Weghorst is expected to lead the line alongside Mika Godts – fresh from a brace at the weekend – and Steven Berghuis.
Kenneth Taylor remains a goalscoring threat from midfield, while summer recruit Oscar Gloukh brings prior Champions League experience with Salzburg.
Inter Milan
Inter also fell short in their domestic campaign, ceding the Scudetto to Napoli, before enduring greater heartbreak in Europe.
After a record-setting run of 10 Champions League wins and a dramatic semi-final triumph over Barcelona, their dreams were crushed in brutal fashion with a 5-0 final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain – Simone Inzaghi’s last game in charge.
Inzaghi’s replacement is Cristian Chivu, a 2010 Champions League winner with Inter but a novice at senior management. The former Ajax defender guided his new squad into the Club World Cup knockouts, but Serie A form has been erratic.
A 5-0 rout of Torino was followed by a shock home defeat to Udinese and then a wild Derby d’Italia, where Inter led late on only to lose 4-3 against Juventus.
Team News
Chivu has a full squad at his disposal, including deadline-day signing Manuel Akanji, who debuted in that chaotic Turin clash. New arrivals Petar Sucic, Andy Diouf and Ange-Yoan Bonny are also pushing for involvement.
Up front, Marcus Thuram has already netted three league goals this season, while captain Lautaro Martinez – last year’s nine-goal Champions League spearhead – remains the chief attacking weapon.
Conclusion
Inter have lost just one of their last 14 group or league fixtures in the Champions League, keeping eight clean sheets in their last nine. Yet Chivu’s men are clearly a work in progress and will be tested by an Ajax side thriving at home.
With both still settling under new leadership, a competitive draw looks the likeliest outcome in Amsterdam.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: BetUS
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