Inter Milan secure Serie A title in heated win over AC Milan
Milan: Inter Milan stormed to a 20th Serie A title and earned a second star on the team shirts after dominating the league just like Napoli did last season.
The Italian title race was expected to be a closer fight this campaign but the defending champion stuttered from the start just as Inter impressed from the outset.
Everything appeared to click seamlessly for the Nerazzurri, who were helped by remaining relatively injury-free, and it was inevitable for a long time when they clinch the league on Monday.
It was even sweeter for Inter that it did so at city rival AC Milan, which also started the season hoping to secure its 20th Serie A trophy.
The 2-1 victory at San Siro lifted Inter 17 points clear of second-placed Milan with five matches to spare.
Here’s how Inter did it:
IMPRESSIVE INZAGHI
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Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has finally graduated from his King of Cups’ nickname.
The 48-year-old Inzaghi had never coached a team to a league title despite an impressive list of achievements.
With Lazio and then Inter, Inzaghi won three Italian Cups and five Italian Super Cups, earning him the title of “Re di Coppe” (“King of Cups”). He also steered Inter to the Champions League final last year.
The way he broke his Serie A duck has been particularly outstanding.
Inter ruled over the league. The Nerazzurri lost just one match — in late September — and have by far the best attack as well as the best defense.
Inter has 79 league goals, 15 more than the next best attack — Milan — and went on a 13-match winning run in all competitions at the start of the year.
That run was halted only last month in a shootout loss at Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
TIMELY CHANGES
Inter has also garnered praise for its attacking flair. The team has been entertaining.
That aesthetic has been down to Inzaghi’s player management. While he tends to keep squad rotation to a minimum, he consistently uses all five substitutions available.
Inzaghi also rarely uses them before the hour mark, unless a player is on a yellow card. Inter has not had two players sent off for two bookings this season.
SMART BUYS
There was concern among Inter supporters when Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko departed in the offseason to leave the Nerazzurri without a center forward.
Those worries didn’t last long as new signing Marcus Thuram seamlessly slotted in as Lautaro Martinez’s new strike partner.
So much so, that Lautaro and Thuram have taken over from Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as Serie A’s most dangerous strike pairing.
The 26-year-old Thuram — the son of former Parma and Juventus defender Lilian Thuram – has 12 goals and seven assists, while Inter captain Lautaro has a league-high 23 goals. Another key signing that initially raised eyebrows was that of veteran Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer for 6 million euros (then $5.45 million) to replace Andre
Onana.
