From the rubble of a European night to the tricolor sewn on the chest. Inter’s ride, which culminated tonight with a 2-0 win over Parma, was born on 31 May 2025, a date that seemed to have closed one cycle and instead opened another: the debacle in the Champions League final against PSG, a suddenly fragile group, the farewell of Simone Inzaghi to Saudi Arabia and the choice, far from obvious, to rely on Cristian Chivu. A handover that smacked of a gamble, made even more complex by a turbulent summer, between the Club World Cup and internal tensions that exploded publicly after the elimination against Fluminense, when Lautaro Martinez had made everyone face their responsibilities. «Whoever doesn’t want to stay must leave. You have to want to be in this team, I saw many things that I didn’t like”, was the captain’s attack on the microphones, immediately after the defeat against the Brazilians. Harsh words, addressed in particular to Hakan Calhanoglu, which had raised fears of an irreparable fracture. And instead, light filtered through that crack. After the holidays, the group regrouped and found meaning and direction.
Not without stumbles: two defeats in the first three days of the championship had fueled doubts and skepticism. But Chivu’s Inter began to take shape elsewhere, in Europe, with victories against Ajax and Slavia Prague restoring their confidence and identity. From there, a slow but steady rise also in Serie A, built on a series of successes against capable opponents and consolidated in the first real turning points of the season. The defeat against Napoli, on the eighth matchday, amid controversy and regret, seemed like it could mark a breaking point. Instead, it became a turning point. Inter responded on the pitch, beating Fiorentina and Verona and continuing their clear path in the Champions League. On the eleventh matchday, thanks to the Neapolitans’ misstep, the Nerazzurri found themselves at the top, starting a long chase for continuity. There was no shortage of misses, such as the derby lost against Milan or the European defeat against Atletico Madrid, but each time the team demonstrated a new, almost unexpected resilience. The real strength was there: in the ability to absorb blows without losing direction.
Even when the disappointment of the Italian Super Cup arrived, lost on penalties against Bologna on 19 December, or when in the Champions League the cycle ended abruptly with the elimination in the playoffs against Bodo/Glimt in mid-February. A premature and painful exit, which in other seasons could have left heavy waste. Not this time. Inter have turned European frustration into fuel for the championship. On the other hand, 2026 had opened with a team now aware of its means. Winter champion, capable of extending up to eight, then ten points over his pursuers. Managing even the most complex moments, such as the cycle of draws and the new derby lost in March, which closed the stretch phase with 14 victories in 15 games from November to February in the league. When Milan and Napoli tried to reopen the game, Inter responded with maturity, without tears but with a solidity that made the difference. Como’s comeback, from 0-2 to a 4-3 victory on the 32nd matchday, was perhaps the symbolic image of the season: a team that never falls apart, that knows how to suffer and then strike. The rest was a progressive extension, also favored by the missteps of the rivals, until the final was transformed into a long wait for mathematics. A ride less spectacular than others, perhaps, but more significant. Because it was born from doubt, from rupture, from the need to reinvent oneself. It is the first trophy of the Oaktree era, the third of the Marotta era, which reaches his personal star considering the ten titles won as a manager. But it is also the third championship for a group of leaders like Barella, Bastoni and Lautaro, who have now become the beating heart of a team that has been able to walk through the fire and come out stronger. It was not continuous domination, but a path of growth. Not a triumphal march, but a reconstruction. And it is precisely this that makes Inter’s tricolor different from the others: because it is not only the highest point, but proof that even after a disastrous fall you can start again, change your skin and win again.
1st DAY (25/08/25)
Off with a bang for Christian Chivu’s new Inter: debut at San Siro and Turin overwhelmed 5-0 with Bastoni opening the scoring, Thuram’s brace and goals from Lautaro and Bonny.
2nd DAY (31/08/25)
First slip: still on the pitch at the Meazza, the Nerazzurri lost 2-1 to Udinese despite Dumfries’ initial lead.
3rd DAY (13/09/25)
Bitter Italian Derby and second defeat in a row: at the Allianz Stadium Inter lose to Juve 4-3, mocked by Adzic’s late goal. Twice down, the Nerazzurri managed to get back into the match with a brace from Calhanoglu and took the lead with Thuram before the Bianchioneri counter-overtaken.
4th DAY (21/09/25)
Dimarco and Carlos Augusto scored the 2-1 win over Sassuolo which allowed the Nerazzurri to return to success even if they were six points behind leaders Napoli.
5th DAY (27/09/25)
Precious victory in Cagliari: 2-0, Lautaro and Pio Esposito scored. With Napoli defeated by Milan, Chivu’s team recovers further ground.
6th DAY (04/10/25)
Lautaro and Bonny in the first half, Dimarco and Barella in the second half: 4-1 to Cremonese and close to Juventus (0-0 with Milan) -3 behind first-place Napoli.
7th DAY (18/10/25)
Bonny’s goal in the 6th minute was enough to conquer the Olimpico: 1-0 over Roma and the same Giallorossi and Napoli at the top at 15.
8th DAY (25/10/25)
Inter lose Maradona’s big match against Napoli 3-1: after a controversial penalty scored by De Bruyne, McTominay scores the second, Calhaloglu shortens but Anguissa knocks out Chivu’s team which goes back to -3.
9th DAY (29/10/25)
Quick redemption at the expense of Fiorentina, overwhelmed 3-0: Calhanoglu is still decisive with a brace, there is also glory for Sucic and Chivu’s team remains in the wake of Naples and Rome and reaches Milan.
10th DAY (02/11/25)
An own goal by Frese in the 94th minute gave Bentegodi a 2-1 win over Verona, after Giovane had equalized Zielinski’s lead. A fundamental victory, which allows us to reduce the gap to just one point from Napoli, blocked at 0-0 by Como.
11th DAY (09/11/25)
Lautaro and Bonny beat Lazio 2-0 and, thanks to Napoli’s defeat in Bologna, Inter rises to the top together with Roma.
12th DAY (23/11/25)
The Madonnina derby smiles at Milan: Pulisic’s goal decides the match and Inter slips to -3 behind Roma, also overtaken by Napoli and their own Rossoneri cousins.
13th DAY (30/11/25)
The usual Lautaro will take care of the Arena Garibaldi: a brace for Toro and 2-0 against Pisa. With Milan beating Lazio 1-0 and Napoli narrowly overtaking Roma, the ranking sees the top four teams within one point.
14th DAY (06/12/25)
Overwhelming performance against the surprise Como: 4-0 with Lautaro, Thuram, Calhanoglu and Carlos Augusto on target. Milan and Napoli remain ahead but Inter are there.
15th DAY (14/12/25)
The new overtaking comes at Marassi: 2-1 against Genoa with goals from Bisseck and Lautaro and for the first time in the season Inter occupies first place alone in light of Milan’s draw (2-2 with Sassuolo) and Napoli’s slip-up in Udine.
17th DAY (28/12/25)
Inter, despite one game less, ends 2025 at the top of the championship thanks to the success in Bergamo (1-0) decided by Lautaro. Milan (3-0 against Verona) and Napoli (2-0 against Cremona) remain in their wake.
18th DAY (04/01/26)
New year, usual Inter: 3-1 against Bologna and an unchanged advantage over the first pursuers. Zielinski, Lautaro and Thuram signed the victory.
19th DAY (07/01/26)
Chivu’s team begins to stretch: in Parma the late goals from Dimarco and Thuram are worth +3 over Milan (1-1 with Genoa) and +4 against Napoli (2-2 with Verona).
20th DAY (11/01/26)
The big match at San Siro between Inter and Napoli ends 2-2: Nerazzurri ahead twice (Dimarco and Calhanoglu on penalty) and twice caught by McTominay but Milan doesn’t take advantage (1-1 in Florence) and at -4, in addition to Napoli, Juve comes back (5-0 against Cremonese).
RECOVERIES 16th MATCH (14/01/26)
Pio Esposito breaks down Lecce’s resistance (1-0) and Inter are Winter champions. The Nerazzurri maintain a 3-point lead over Milan (3-1 in Como) and extend their lead to +6 over Napoli, held at 0-0 by Parma.
21st DAY (17/01/26)
In Udine, Lautaro was the match-winner (0-1) of a match that allowed the Nerazzurri to keep Milan (1-0 over Lecce) and Napoli (1-0) at a distance.
22nd DAY (23/01/26)
Moreo scares Inter with two goals in 23 minutes, then Chivu’s team reacts and overwhelms Pisa 6-2 by sending Zielinski on a penalty, Lautaro, Esposito, Dimarco, Bonny and Mkhitaryan. A victory worth +5 over Milan, held at 1-1 by Roma, and +9 over Napoli, defeated 3-0 by Juve in Turin, and the Giallorossi themselves.
23rd DAY (01/02/26)
Just over half an hour was enough to beat Cremonese (Lautaro and Zielinski scored) and maintain the lead over Milan (3-0 in Bologna) and Napoli (2-1 over Fiorentina) while Roma broke away again, beaten in Udine.
24th DAY (06-07-08/02/26)
Inter overwhelms Sassuolo 5-0: the match was already closed in the first half (Bisseck and Thuram), then in the second half Lautaro, Akanji and Luis Henrique completed the job. He is +8 on Milan whose match against Como was postponed.
25th DAY (14/02/26)
Taking the lead first with Cambiaso’s own goal and then with Esposito, Inter were caught twice by Juve who were left with ten men but in the 90th minute Zielinski scored the final 3-2. This leaves 8 points on Milan, victorious in Pisa 2-1.
26th DAY (21/02/26)
Lecce resists for an hour, then Mkhitaryan and Akanji freeze Via del Mare: 2-0 and escape for Inter, +10 over Milan (who in the meantime had equalized in injury time with Como), beaten at San Siro by Parma.
27th DAY (28/02/26)
Dimarco unlocks the match against Genoa, then Calhanoglu is unforgiving from the spot: 2-0 and +10 confirmed against Milan who move on to Cremona with the same result.
28th DAY (08/03/26)
The return derby is also bitter for the Nerazzurri: a goal from Estupinan allows Milan to win 1-0 and reduce the gap to seven points.
29th DAY (14/03/26)
Esposito is not enough, Chivu’s team is caught by Atalanta at 1-1 but it is a precious draw because Milan loses against Lazio and slips to -8.
30th DAY (22/03/26)
Another draw, this time in Florence, where Esposito immediately took the lead but Ndour set the result at 1-1. Milan beat Torino 3-2 and go to -6, while Napoli can be seen in the mirrors again, with the victory in Cagliari going back to -7.
31st DAY (05/04/26)
On Easter Sunday, Inter crushed Roma 5-2: after the back and forth between Lautaro and Mancini, Calhanoglu, Lautaro again, Thuram and Barella sank the Giallorossi. At the Maradona, Napoli beat Milan 1-0 and took them into second place but the gap to the Nerazzurri is seven points.
32nd DAY (12/04/26)
On the lake shore here is the victory that puts a first real claim on the scudetto: Como dominates for a while and flies to 2-0, then Inter overturns it (doubles from Thuram and Dumfries) and wins 4-3, taking a +9 lead over Napoli (1-1 in Parma) while Milan collapses at home against Udinese (0-3).
33rd DAY (17/04/26)
It takes Inter a while to break down Cagliari’s wall, then Thuram, Barella and Zielinski score the 3-0 which gives Chivu’s men their first match point: Napoli, beaten 2-0 by Lazio, goes to -12 and is joined by Milan victorious in Verona.
34th DAY (26/04/26)
In Turin Thuram and Bisseck bring the Nerazzurri to 2-0 but then Chivu’s team recovers to 2-2 and thus misses the first match point, also because Napoli (4-0 to Cremonese) goes back to -10.