Marc ter Stegen and Caio Henrique were both in Ajax's starting XI for the away match against PEC Zwolle on Sunday, a notable selection call from Míchel Sánchez as the league season began. Ajax were scheduled to kick off at 14.30, and the match came in the middle of a busy stretch with European commitments still on the calendar.
The two newcomers had already drawn attention before the opening whistle. Ajax signed Caio Henrique last month for 10 miljoen euro excluding bonuses, while Ter Stegen arrived after missing the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury. For both players, this was their first official start for Ajax, making the fixture more than just a standard league opener.
Why the lineup stood out
Sánchez had already hinted on Thursday evening that Ter Stegen would need more training with the squad before being ready to start. At the same time, he made it clear that Youri Baas would be an important player this season. That context made the decision to start Ter Stegen in Zwolle a surprise, especially after he had not made an official start since the end of January, when he last started for Girona against Real Oviedo.
Caio Henrique's inclusion was also notable because Sánchez had preferred Owen Wijndal over him in the three Conference League matches. This time, Ajax chose a different look for a league match that carried added weight because of the team's packed schedule.
A rare opening for PEC Zwolle
The matchup also carried some history. PEC had not beaten Ajax in an official match since 2014, when it won the Johan Cruijff Schaal. That long run added another layer to a meeting that already had interest because of Ajax's lineup choices and the introduction of two new starters.
For Ajax, the immediate question is how quickly Ter Stegen and Caio Henrique can settle into regular roles. For PEC Zwolle, the challenge was simple: take advantage of a rare chance against a side that has usually controlled this fixture, even when the lineup is not exactly what many expected.
