Champions League official line-ups: Ajax vs. Inter | OneFootball

Lautaro Martinez is not passed fit to start for Inter against Ajax, so Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito lead the way with Manuel Akanji and Federico Dimarco.

It kicks off at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and PSG vs. Atalanta on the Liveblog.

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Yann Sommer of FC Internazionale kicks the ball clear whilst under pressure from Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The Nerazzurri have had a very tough start to life under coach Cristian Chivu, who is trying to pick up the shattered pieces of a team that ended last season empty-handed.

They still seem traumatised by the 5-0 Champions League Final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and lost their last two Serie A matches against Udinese and Juventus.

To make matters worse, captain Lautaro Martinez is struggling with a back injury and is not risked here, so youth product Esposito joins Thuram upfront in the 3-5-2 formation.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not pushed aside by Petar Sucic, with Akanji getting his second game for the club since moving from Manchester City.

There were suggestions Alessandro Bastoni could be rested in favour of Carlos Augusto, but he is backed.

Despite criticism of recent performances, Yann Sommer remains in goal.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 26: Mika Godts of Ajax celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between AFC Ajax and Besiktas JK at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 26, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Ajax are also under a new coach, John Heitinga, who was teammates with Chivu at the Dutch club.

He too is missing a key player, as Steven Berghuis is out injured along with Branco van den Boomen.

This means Oliver Edvardsen is shifted over to the right flank to cover, with Mike Godts and Wout Weghorst.

They have started the campaign with three home wins and two away draws in the Eredivisie.

Ajax have not beaten Inter since the 2-0 European Cup Final of 1972, managing one draw and three losses.

Ajax vs. Inter official line-ups

Ajax: Jaros; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Taylor, Regeer; Edvardsen, Weghorst, Godts

Ajax bench: Heerkens, Pasveer, Lucas Rosa, Moro, Dolberg, Gloukh, McConnell, Mokio, Fitz-Jim, Sutalo, Alders, Bounida

Inter: Sommer; Akanji, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Esposito, M Thuram

Inter bench: Di Gennaro, J Martinez, Zielinski, P Sucic, Lautaro Martinez, Luis Henrique, Bonny, Acerbi, Frattesi, Diouf, Carlos Augusto, Bisseck

Ref: Oliver (ENG)