The Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam is ready. Ajax step in unbeaten this season, looking sharp at home, but questions remain whenever the opponent is a real heavyweight. Inter, meanwhile, land in the Netherlands carrying baggage: a brutal loss to PSG in last year’s final and a shaky start to Serie A. For both sides, this opener already feels like more than just another game. Drop points early in the league phase and it could come back to bite you when the knockout race heats up.
Ajax trying to prove strength against a bigger rival
History gives Ajax plenty of respect, but history doesn’t win soccer matches. The club is still patching things up after last season’s collapse that cost them the Dutch league title. With John Heitinga in charge, the start of 2025/26 has been encouraging: five games, no defeats. Home wins over Telstar, Heracles and PEC Zwolle. Two away draws against Volendam and Go Ahead Eagles. Ten goals scored, four conceded. It’s enough for third place in the Eredivisie, though in Europe that résumé doesn’t exactly scare anyone.
Their record against Italian teams tells the story. Ajax haven’t beaten Inter in their last four Champions League clashes, three losses and a draw. Zoom out to all meetings with Serie A sides and it gets worse. After opening with three wins without conceding, Ajax have managed just three victories in the last 25 games against Italian clubs. That’s a heavy stat, a reminder of how tough it is to match up with Italy’s elite.
Still, it’s not all bad news. Wout Weghorst has stepped up as the main scoring threat and leads the line with confidence. Playing at the Johan Cruijff Arena usually lifts the squad, and Heitinga’s debut as a Champions League coach carries extra meaning. He now joins a short list of former Ajax players who’ve also managed the club in this competition: Cruijff, Ronald Koeman, Frank de Boer, Danny Blind. That legacy adds pressure, sure, but it also strengthens the club’s identity.
Inter carry scars but still look dangerous
Inter haven’t forgotten the humiliation of last season’s final. Losing 5–0 to PSG didn’t just strip them of the trophy, it also ended Simone Inzaghi’s tenure. Cristian Chivu has stepped into the chaos and is still shaping the side. Early results haven’t helped: back-to-back defeats in Serie A, one of them to Juventus in the Derby d’Italia. That kind of start brings pressure, but it could also light a fire. The Champions League now feels like the best chance to flip the mood.
Talent isn’t the issue. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram remain the attacking anchors, while Manuel Akanji arrived to strengthen the defense. Stats lean Inter’s way, too. They’re unbeaten against Dutch teams in 12 Champions League matches, with nine wins and three draws. They’ve never lost to a Dutch club in the tournament, and among countries where they remain undefeated, the Netherlands is the one they’ve faced the most.
Defense has been their calling card. Between 2022 and 2025, Inter kept 20 clean sheets in the Champions League, more than any other team. The end of last season told a different story, though, 13 goals conceded in their last four matches, at least two in each. Even with that slump, the foundation is there. And for this opener, Chivu has a full squad to choose from, no injuries confirmed.