Ajax 0-2 Inter Player Ratings: Hakan Çalhanoğlu rated 9/10 as Thuram's Brace Secures Comfortable Win for Visitors

In a compelling Champions League encounter at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Inter demonstrated their tactical superiority with a convincing 2-0 victory over Ajax. From our perspective, the match was a story of clinical finishing versus missed opportunities. The Italian side looked dangerous from the outset, controlling the tempo and creating numerous chances.

What stood out to us was the sheer dominance of Inter on set-pieces. This became the deciding factor in the match. Both goals came from headers by the formidable Marcus Thuram, who was a constant nightmare for the Ajax defense. He was brilliantly supplied on both occasions by Hakan Çalhanoğlu from corner kicks, a connection that Ajax simply had no answer for.

Ajax, for their part, showed flashes of promise but lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third. They created a few notable chances, including a big one for Mika Godts in the first half that was well-saved by Yann Sommer. Ultimately, their inability to convert their moments and their vulnerability at the back cost them dearly in this European clash. Here are the Ajax vs Inter Milan player ratings:

Ajax Player Ratings vs Inter

Here are the Ajax player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 6.0: A challenging night for the keeper. He made three saves, including a couple of decent stops inside the box. However, he was left exposed on both of Marcus Thuram's headers from corners. His distribution was fairly accurate, but one error did lead to a shot. From our view, he couldn't do much about the goals but didn't command his area on the set pieces.

Defenders

Anton Gaaei - 6.5: A very active performance down the right flank. He was constantly involved, touching the ball 90 times and attempting 13 crosses. Unfortunately, only one of those found its mark. He worked hard and won his tackles but lost possession far too often, which halted several potential attacks. A mixed bag of energy and imprecision.

Ko Itakura - 5.5: We thought he had a tough time dealing with Inter's forwards. He committed four fouls and struggled in his duels, winning just a fraction of them. He made a few crucial blocks and clearances, but overall he looked unsettled against the physicality of Marcus Thuram. His substitution in the 84th minute was not a surprise.

Youri Baas - 7.0: One of Ajax's better defenders on the night, from our perspective. He was excellent in possession with a 94% pass accuracy and won a remarkable eight out of his eleven duels. However, his performance was marred by a yellow card and conceding a penalty situation. He made several key interceptions and clearances, showing his defensive awareness.

Owen Wijndal - 7.0: A really solid and composed display. His pass completion was near-perfect, which helped Ajax build from the back under pressure. He made a crucial last-man tackle and was defensively sound throughout. He even managed to create a chance going forward. What stood out to us was his reliability in a backline that was often stretched.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 6.0: An industrious but ultimately quiet game for the midfielder. He was neat on the ball and made a few recoveries in the middle of the park. However, he struggled to impose himself on the game against a dominant Inter midfield. He was eventually substituted after putting in a decent shift without much impact.

Kenneth Taylor - 5.5: A battle in midfield that he didn't seem to win. He fought hard, winning a few tackles and drawing fouls. But he was often bypassed and lost possession nine times in just over an hour. His evening was cut short by injury, which summed up a frustrating performance where he failed to influence proceedings.

Davy Klaassen - 6.0: The captain tried to lead by example but couldn't get a foothold in the game. He made a couple of important interceptions and a clearance. Offensively, he was anonymous, with his only shot going off target. We expected more from a player of his experience in such a big Champions League match.

Forwards

Mika Godts - 6.0: Looked like Ajax's most likely source of a goal in his time on the pitch. He had a big chance saved by Yann Sommer and created two other opportunities for his teammates. However, his final product was lacking and he lost the ball far too often. A promising but ultimately frustrating display.

Oliver Edvardsen - 6.5: He was a nuisance for the Inter defense, drawing five fouls and creating a big chance. He worked tirelessly and was a willing runner. Despite his efforts, his own attacking contribution was minimal, with his only shot failing to hit the target. A hard-working but ineffective performance in front of goal.

Wout Weghorst - 5.0: We were really disappointed with his performance. He was brought in to be a physical presence but was largely nullified by Inter's central defenders. He lost possession frequently and was caught offside twice. He offered very little goal threat and was substituted after 63 minutes. A night to forget for the striker.

Substitutes

Kasper Dolberg - 6.5: Looked sharper than the man he replaced, forcing a good save with a header.
James McConnell - 6.0: Brought energy but couldn't change the midfield battle.
Raúl Moro - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.
Oscar Gloukh - N/A: Came on late with the game already lost.
Josip Sutalo - N/A: A late defensive change.

Manager

J. Heitinga - 5.0: From our perspective, his game plan was ineffective. His Ajax side was completely outplayed tactically, especially on set-pieces where they conceded both goals. The team lacked a coherent attacking strategy and seemed vulnerable every time Inter came forward. The substitutions did little to alter the course of the match.

Inter Player Ratings vs Ajax

Here are the Inter Milan player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Yann Sommer - 7.5: A very assured performance from the Swiss international. He wasn't peppered with shots but made a crucial save to deny Mika Godts in the first half. He commanded his area well, claiming high balls with confidence and even making a punch. A clean sheet earned with minimal fuss.

Defenders

Stefan de Vrij - 7.5: An absolute colossus at the heart of the defense. He read the game beautifully, making an incredible nine clearances. While he lost a few aerial duels, his positioning was immaculate, ensuring Wout Weghorst had a miserable night. A commanding and intelligent defensive display.

Manuel Akanji - 6.5: A quiet but effective outing for the defender. He was comfortable in possession but did lose it a few times under pressure. He wasn't spectacular, but he didn't need to be. He did his defensive duties without any issues, contributing to a solid backline performance.

Alessandro Bastoni - 7.0: A typically classy performance from Bastoni. He was solid defensively, winning his tackles and making important interceptions. What really stood out to us was his passing range, spraying long balls forward to start attacks. He was aggressive when needed and composed on the ball throughout.

Midfielders

Denzel Dumfries - 7.0: A powerful performance on the right flank. He was a beast in the duels, winning seven of them and providing a strong defensive shield. He wasn't as involved in the attack as he sometimes is, but his disciplined and physical display was key to Inter's defensive solidity.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. From our perspective, he ran the show from midfield. His delivery from set-pieces was simply sublime, providing two perfect assists for Marcus Thuram. Beyond the assists, he controlled the game's tempo, recovered the ball nine times, and created three big chances. A masterclass performance and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 6.5: A typically industrious and intelligent performance before he was substituted. He was clean in the tackle, winning the ball back and keeping possession moving smoothly. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul but his work rate was vital to Inter's midfield control.

Nicolò Barella - 7.5: The captain was an absolute engine in the midfield. He was everywhere, winning eight duels, drawing fouls to relieve pressure, and driving the team forward. He combined tenacity with quality on the ball, creating a chance and maintaining a high pass accuracy. A true leader's performance.

Federico Dimarco - 7.5: A constant threat down the left side. His crossing was dangerous, and he forced a save with a powerful shot. He created a big chance and was a key outlet for the team. His energy going both forwards and backwards was impressive before he was given a well-earned rest.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 8.5: The match-winner. He was the perfect target man, and his movement in the box for both goals was exceptional. Two clinical headers from corners decided the game. He was a physical handful for the Ajax defenders all night, taking seven shots and proving why he's such a feared striker. An outstanding display of finishing.

Pio Esposito - 7.0: While he didn't get on the scoresheet, he played his role perfectly. He worked incredibly hard, drawing fouls and creating three chances for his teammates. His link-up play with Marcus Thuram was excellent, and he was a constant pest for the opposition defenders. A selfless and effective performance.

Substitutes

Davide Frattesi - 6.0: Added fresh legs but will be disappointed to have missed a clear-cut headed chance.
Carlos Augusto - 6.5: Looked dangerous after coming on for Federico Dimarco.
Piotr Zielinski - N/A: Came on to see the game out.
Ange-Yoan Bonny - N/A: A late cameo.
Petar Sucic - N/A: A late cameo.

Manager

C. Chivu - 8.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. He identified Ajax's weakness on set-pieces and exploited it ruthlessly. His Inter team was organized, dominant, and fully deserved the three points. From our perspective, it was a tactical masterclass in an away Champions League fixture.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Hakan Çalhanoğlu.