Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
In the opening round of the league phase of the Champions League, Ajax face their toughest assignment straight away, as Inter Milan are widely expected to reach the knockout rounds.
AFC Ajax
Last season Ajax only featured in the UEFA Europa League after they failed in the 2023/24 Eredivisie, finishing fifth. They reached the round of 16, where they were dismantled by Eintracht Frankfurt (1:2, 1:4), a club that does not compare with Inter Milan. In the run-in of the most recent domestic campaign the team also tailed off, squandering the title despite holding a nine-point lead. They were fortunate that the UEFA country coefficient for the Netherlands allowed them to enter the league phase of the Champions League without having to come through qualifying.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan were the UEFA Champions League runners-up in 2024/25, though that is not an official title. The final against Paris Saint-Germain ended in outright disappointment at 0:5. They are now trying to at least match that level, but there have been early issues. There has been only one win and three points from the first three Serie A rounds. Inter Milan thrashed Torino (5:0), who were without a key defender and their goalkeeper, but were then beaten by Udinese Calcio at San Siro (1:2). The defeat by Juventus did not look surprising in that context, although the scoreline was somewhat unusual (3:4).
AFC Ajax vs Inter Milan Prediction
Both teams have issues with cohesion and with mentality, so a 0:0 or 1:0 looks unlikely. We expect an open game with errors and a higher goal count.
