Manchester City trail Ajax by one goal as the teams head in for the half-time interval at the Etihad Stadium.
Siem de Jong silenced the home crowd in the 10th minute, firing into the roof of the net from a tight angle to give the visitors the lead.
He doubled his account for the evening seven minutes later, capitalising on some poor marking from a corner to ghost in and nod past Joe Hart.
City finally got going in the 22nd minute thanks to a wonderful individual effort from Yaya Toure, who chested down and volleyed past Kenneth Vermeer.
Pablo Zabaleta had a chance to level for the home side, but his header was directed straight at the keeper.
Roberto Mancini's men found it a struggle to break down Ajax, who have defended astutely.
