Ajax Amsterdam are set to renew their long-standing rivalry with Inter Milan after a gap of 19 years on Europe's biggest stages in the UEFA Champions League. Ajax struck the killer blow in 1972 when they lifted the European Cup against Inter. They lost 3 of the next four encounters in the subsequent years, but the final loss would still be stinging the Italian giants. These sides share seven Champions League titles between them, but success has been hard to come by in the last one and a half decades. The new campaign provides a chance to do the unthinkable, but these sides enter the fray as underdogs.
After suffering a heartbreak in the league last season, Ajax are up to their usual speed. They quickly got out of their mini slump and would look to lift some silverware this season. They got back to winning ways after seeing off PEC Zwolle with a routine 3-1 victory. First-time coach Johnny Heitinga is helping his side find the back of the net with relative ease, but protecting their goal has been a concern for him.
Inter and Ajax shared multiple legendary players, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Christian Eriksen, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Wesley Sneijder over the years. Christian Chivu, who currently coaches Inter Milan, is another relevant figure who played for both sides.
Chivu spent three years in Amsterdam before playing for the Nerazzurri for five years. The Romanian, however, had a difficult start to life at San Siro. He started his Serie A reign with a thumping 5-0 win against Torino. But two tough losses back-to-back against Udinese and Juventus left the squad reeling. The Derby d'Italia on the weekend saw them lose 4-3 with a late goal from Vasilije Adzic. Tough questions are being asked of the squad that many believe has stagnated over the years. Despite making two Champions League finals over the last three years, they fell short of glory. This might turn out to be a very difficult campaign if the side burns out if the coach doesn't produce a miracle.
Ajax team news
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- Wout Weghorst started the season in fine form with three goals and an assist in five games. The Dutch international is back in the competition after five years and would be looking to open his account this time.
- Davy Klaassen and Kenneth Taylor's flourishing midfield partnership will face an incredibly tough assignment against their Italian counterpart.
- Plenty of Champions League debutants for Ajax as Heitinga looks for inspiration.
- Branco van den Boomen, the long-term absentee, will miss out on this clash, along with the highly-rated Aaron Bouwman
- Predicted lineups: Jaros; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Taylor, Regeer; Berghuis, Weghorst, Godts
Inter team news
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- Inter Milan has a full squad available for Chivu to choose from, as they are blessed on the injury front.
- Their usually reliable vanguard, looking susceptible on the break, with Francesco Acerbi and loan signing Manuel Akanji searching for form.
- The strike pair of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez needs to do the heavy lifting for them to get any sort of attacking returns.
- Predicted lineups: Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Martinez, Thuram
Ajax vs Inter Milan Head to Head
AJXLast 5 matches
INT0
Wins
1
Draw
4
Wins
Goals scored
6- Games over 2.5 goals
- 2/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
Odds & Predictions
The pre-match odds from top bookmakers are in favor of Inter Milan. They are priced at 1.90 now, with Ajax taking the underdog tag at 3.95. In the case of points being shared, the odds are priced at 4.
How to buy last-minute tickets for the game
Official resellers like StubHub offer cut-price last-minute deals for fans wanting to catch the action live from the ground.
Ajax vs Inter Milan date & start time
| Date | September 17 |
| Start Time | 8 pm BST / 9 pm CET / 3 pm ET |
| Venue | Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam |
Which channel is the Ajax vs Inter Milan game on?
The game is streamed on Discovery+ for fans in the UK. Paramount+ is the exclusive home of the Champions League in the United States, as the fans can catch all the games of the prestigious competition.
How to watch anywhere with a VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.
