Mon. Sep 22nd, 2025

Inter Dominates Ajax with Thuram’s Brace and Calhanoglu’s Brilliance

Inter Milan players celebrate with Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram, number 9, after he scored his side's first goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Ajax and Inter Milan at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

Inter Milan kicked off their Champions League campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Ajax in Amsterdam. Marcus Thuram emerged as the star of the match, scoring two headers to secure the victory for the Italian side.

Hakan Calhanoglu played a crucial role in the win, providing assists for both of Thuram`s goals. This performance comes as a strong response to recent criticism faced by both players.

Player Ratings

Inter Milan

  • Yann Sommer (7.5): Made a crucial save and kept a clean sheet, silencing his critics.
  • Alessandro Bastoni (7): Solid defensive performance, keeping Ajax`s attack at bay.
  • Stefan De Vrij (7): Consistently strong in defense.
  • Manuel Akanji (7): Contributed to the team`s clean sheet with a reliable display.
  • Federico Dimarco (7.5): Impressive performance on both ends of the pitch.
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan (6.5): Quiet but error-free game.
  • Hakan Calhanoglu (8.5): Silenced critics with two assists, following his recent brace against Juventus.
  • Nicolo Barella (7): Dominated midfield, though created only one chance.
  • Denzel Dumfries (7.5): Constant threat down the right flank.
  • Francesco Pio Esposito (6.5): Gained valuable experience despite being overshadowed.
  • Marcus Thuram (9): Man of the match with two well-taken headers.

The victory marks a strong start for Inter in their Champions League campaign, with Thuram and Calhanoglu particularly impressing and answering their critics in style.

By Vihaan Mehrotra

In the heart of Bangalore lives and works Vihaan Mehrotra, one of modern India's most insightful sports analysts. His childhood passion for cricket and field hockey evolved into a successful career. His daily column in Bangalore's digital media covers all significant world sporting events, from cricket matches to badminton tournaments. As a sports betting expert, he developed his own methodology for analyzing team statistics. His IPL match predictions are renowned for their 75% accuracy rate.

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