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Ajax draw world champions Chelsea and finalists Inter in Champions League

Updated
Brazilian legend Kaka drew Ajax's ticket during Thursday's draw
Brazilian legend Kaka drew Ajax's ticket during Thursday's drawFrederic DIDES / AFP
Eredivisie giants Ajax have been drawn against Club World Cup winners Chelsea and last year's Champions League finalists Inter in Thursday's draw for the UEFA Champions League's League Phase.

The four-time Champions League winners return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season, when Ajax were eliminated from the group stage after losing all four games against Liverpool and Napoli, and only beating Rangers twice.

Since then, Ajax have competed in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, with last year's appearance in the Europa League round of 16 their best effort.

With the Amsterdam giants' rather astonishing second-place finish in last season's Eredivisie, which went paired with a late collapse that cost them the title, Ajax secured their first ticket for the newly introduced League Phase.

Ajax's Champions League draw

Ajax's schedule in the UEFA Champions League looks as follows (all times in CET).

Wednesday, September 17th: Ajax - Inter (21.00)

Tuesday, September 30th: Olympique Marseille - Ajax (21.00)

Wednesday, October 22nd: Chelsea - Ajax (21.00)

Wedneday, November 5th: Ajax - Galatasaray (21.00)

Tuesday, November 25th: Ajax - Benfica (18.45)

Wednesday, December 10th: Qarabag - Ajax (18.45)

Tuesday, January 20th: Villarreal - Ajax (21.00)

Wednesday, January 26th: Ajax - Olympiacos (21.00)