The Inter rises again, theAtalanta sinks. Wednesday of Champions two faces for Italian football: a smiling one for Chivu's Nerazzurri, good at conquering Amsterdam (0-2) and starting the journey on the right foot, a decidedly gloomy one for Juric's team, literally crushed by the reigning champions PSG (4-0). Naples of Conte, on stage this evening at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City by Guardiola (21pm), for a match that promises goals, entertainment and twists.
Ajax 0-2 Inter: Chivu rises thanks to a brace from Thuram
Inter responded immediately after their defeat in the Derby d'Italia and took center stage in Europe: 2-0 in Amsterdam against Ajax, with Marcus Thuram the star thanks to a brace headed from a corner. A clean, solid victory secured the first three points of the group and a memorable Champions League debut for Pio Esposito, who started 90 minutes, and Cristian Chivu on the bench. The start was aggressive: Dimarco warmed up Jaros from the edge of the box, while Ajax tried to move the ball around to break the pressure but were regularly held back in the attacking midfield. For half an hour, the game was played at a high tempo without much excitement, then the match heated up. Esposito set up Thuram, who just missed the post, and immediately afterward, the Frenchman earned a penalty, but VAR ruled it out, deeming it a foul early in the move. The hosts had the biggest chance, with Godts being sent into the open field following a mistake by Mkhitaryan, but Sommer was phenomenal and kept the score at 0-0. And in the 43rd minute, the strike changed everything: a corner from Calhanoglu and a perfect header from Thuram, sparking a ripple in the Nerazzurri's bench. In the second half, Inter started even better: Esposito worked hard and set up Calhanoglu to double the lead, only to be stopped by Itakura's block. From the following corner, however, history repeated itself: a cross from the Turk and a commanding Thuram charge, 0-2 and the match was sealed. Ajax felt the pinch, and Dumfries almost made it three from Esposito's pass but was beaten to the post at the last minute. Heitinga tried to make a change, but his team quickly faded and the match continued without further incident. Three crucial points, Thuram's signature, and the first confirmations for Chivu: Inter are off to a good start in the Champions League.
Chivu: "A mature team, this is an exceptional group."
“We showed a lot of maturity, the team is there,” Chivu exulted. “A good start, it's always important to start well in the Champions League, especially with this new format. What did I like most? The maturity, we spent most of the game in their half, we took away their strength, leaving them in front of our penalty area. Inter is experience, character, a desire to do well and to bounce back from a negative period, and they do everything they can to show off. These guys are exceptional. Thuram and Pio Esposito? I've always said it, I have four strong forwards who work for the team and I'm happy when they score. Pio deserves all the praise, he maintained the same intensity throughout the match. For me, there's no such thing as an ID card for someone who's 19 or 36. I'm also happy for Bonny's Champions League debut and for Thuram, who's proving to be a strong player in the air as well.”
PSG – Atalanta 4-0: A one-sided match, with Marquinhos, Kvara, Mendes, and Ramos scoring.
It was a bitter night for Atalanta, swept 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. The match was uneven, opened by Marquinhos's third-minute goal following Maldini's error, and marked by a resounding dominance by the defending champions. A superb Carnesecchi tried to keep Atalanta afloat, making some crucial saves and even saving a penalty from Barcola, but it wasn't enough. Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead with a masterful display in the 39th minute, Nuno Mendes added a third in the second half, and Gonçalo Ramos sealed the victory in injury time with a 4-0 victory. Juric, making his European debut, had surprised by fielding a light attack with Maldini, De Ketelaere, and Pasalic, but the move didn't pay off. Atalanta attempted to respond after the shocking start with a few bursts of energy and a higher press, but they never seriously threatened Chevalier. The Nerazzurri were too fragile at the back, punished by the Parisians' individual strikes and unable to stay in the game after Kvara's second goal. In the second half, substitutions with Samardzic and Krstovic added weight but didn't reverse the momentum: PSG controlled the game, slowed the tempo, and then struck again, capitalizing on the Goddess' defensive errors. A heavy defeat, a night to forget immediately: for Juric and his team, the impact of the Champions League was a tough one.
Juric: "The difference was huge, but I also take some positives."
"We didn't lack attitude, but the difference was huge," Juric said disheartenedly. "We reacted well after the first goal; we shouldn't have conceded a second, but they're at a higher level than us. Maldini should have played that role, but his interpretation wasn't positive. We analyzed the team carefully; we needed to be cautious, but we saw that those who did that lost badly. Strasbourg and Lens played strongly and attacked them; I took some cues from them. We're missing four key players like Kolasinac, Scamacca, Ederson, and Lookman, who have a specific impact, but tonight I took some positive cues because I saw players who can play at this level, like Kossounou, Bernasconi, Brescianini... Even with the recovery time, we can be competitive."
Manchester City – Napoli (21pm, Sky and Now)
Napoli are back in the Champions League, and they're doing so immediately with a crash test against Haaland's Manchester City. Fate has thrown a fascinating twist in the Azzurri's path: Kevin De Bruyne, currently the leader of Conte's midfield, will face the club with which he made his name, with 422 games, 108 goals, a Champions League title won in 2023, and a trophy cabinet brimming with success. Conte's men enter this debut with confidence and certainty. They've won three out of three league matches, have a defense that has conceded just one goal in the buildup against Fiorentina, and an attack that has already found its key player in new signing Hojlund. The Dane scored the 2-0 win at the Franchi and will face a derby of sorts tonight, given his past at United. Then there's Antonio Conte's challenge within a challenge. In Italy, he's won everywhere he's played, but in Europe, the numbers don't add up: 42 Champions League appearances with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter, and Tottenham Hotspur, with a solid record (15 wins, 14 draws, 13 losses), and his best result, a quarterfinal with the Bianconeri in 2013. Too little for a serial winner like him, called upon to prove to the world that he can also make a difference in European competition, starting this evening. The League Phase isn't arduous, but the start and finish against City and Chelsea are pitfalls not to be underestimated. For Napoli, starting on the right foot would mean immediately setting the record straight and shaking off the ghosts of a European past that, at least for Conte, has never lived up to expectations.
Conte: "City are an Everest, but we want to understand our level."
"It will be a tough match. We're playing at the home of a team that has won everything there is to win in recent years," Conte explained. "We're talking about a top club with a top coach. We come here with great humility and a desire to understand where we stand. We're working, but we want to see if we're growing and making progress. We're certainly starting from a very difficult mountain to climb, but we also have the desire to compete and learn, as students, even from the masters. And City, like other top clubs, are masters of this competition. Their history and reputation speak for themselves. It's always a great feeling to return to the Champions League, Europe's most important competition; it brings you back to fantastic stadiums like this. I ask my players to continue to be courageous and to make me understand the gap between us and a powerhouse like them."
