Marcus Thuram struck twice with headers from Hakan Calhanoglu corners as Inter Milan eased past Ajax in their Champions League opener.
The French forward, 28, continued his blistering start to the season, making it five goals in four matches and providing last season’s finalists with the ideal launch to their group campaign.
New boss Cristian Chivu, who replaced Simone Inzaghi after May’s final defeat to Paris St-Germain, kept faith with eight of the side that started in Munich — and was rewarded with a composed and dominant display.
Thuram, dangerous throughout in the absence of rested captain Lautaro Martinez, saw an earlier penalty award overturned by VAR but proved decisive when it mattered, twice punishing Ajax’s slack marking from set pieces.
The hosts might have altered the contest had 20-year-old winger Mika Godts beaten Yann Sommer just before the opener, but the Inter keeper produced a superb save in what proved Ajax’s only clear chance.
Inter now host Slavia Prague on 30 September, while Ajax face a trip to Marseille on the same night.
