Marcus Thuram scores twice as Inter beat Ajax in Champions League opener

Marcus Thuram netted a brace of headers as Inter Milan earned a 2-0 Champions League victory over Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Inter got their campaign off to a solid start following the heartbreak of last season when they were convincingly beaten by Paris St Germain 5-0 in the final.

French striker Thuram found himself in the right place at the right time from a pair of set-pieces supplied by Hakan Calhanoglu either side of the break to get Inter off to a winning start.

Inter started well and Vitezslav Jaros had to be alert to keep Thuram out from close range with the visitors’ first attack of the game.

Ajax’s first foray forward ended with Anton Gaaei unleashing an effort high and wide of the target.

Thuram was brought down by Youri Baas inside the area and Inter thought they were given the chance to score from the spot but referee Michael Oliver overturned his decision.

Ajax missed a glorious chance when Mika Godts latched onto Oliver Edvardsen’s long ball and found himself one-on-one with Yann Sommer but he saw his effort saved by the Inter stopper.

And the Italian side went up the other end and punished them less than a minute later.

Inter were given a corner and Calhanoglu whipped a delivery onto the head of Thuram who rushed to the near post and nodded home to make it 1-0.

Inter started the second half well and capitalised from another corner in the 47th minute.

Calhanoglu’s delivery picked out Thuram yet again who jumped highest and headed into the far corner to give Inter some breathing room.