Inter looking like a proper title contender

Based on everything we’ve seen so far, it seems we’re in for an exciting title race right up to the very end of the Serie A season, with no clear favorites. Or are there? As the season progresses, Inter are confirming the status of top favorites they held even before it began. The Nerazzurri recorded their fifth consecutive league victory on Sunday against Bologna (3–1), staying in first place. They are one point ahead of city rivals Milan and two clear of reigning champions Napoli, but they are winning more comfortably and with far more dominant performances. While Napoli and the Rossoneri struggle for every goal and every point, Inter look increasingly convincing and powerful.

Since the defeat in the Milan derby, Inter have put together five straight wins, largely controlling matches from start to finish. That was the case again against Bologna, who had recently surprised them in the Italian Super Cup semifinals. The final score actually flatters the visitors, as goalkeeper Ravaglia spared them an absolute debacle. They could easily have conceded six, just as they did in 2021 and 2022, when they left the Meazza on both occasions after identical 6–1 defeats.

In the first 10 minutes alone, Ravaglia denied two clear-cut chances for the hosts (Lautaro and Thuram), and it was clear what kind of match we were in for. He continued to perform miracles in goal, also neutralizing excellent chances from Calhanoglu and Bastoni, with Bologna only managing their first real threat after half an hour of play. They resisted Inter’s pressure until the 39th minute, when Zielinski finally beat Ravaglia with a powerful long-range strike, following a beautiful move involving Thuram and Lautaro. Zielinski’s goal changed nothing in terms of the balance of power on the pitch. Inter kept attacking, and Ravaglia kept stopping them—until the start of the second half, when Martínez finally scored. He headed Calhanoglu’s corner into the net with a superb effort and soon after struck the crossbar.

All remaining doubts were settled by Thuram in the 74th minute, when Dimarco’s sharp corner delivery was accidentally deflected into Ravaglia’s net. Only at 3–0 did Inter ease off the gas. Chivu gave minutes to some players with less game time, allowing Bologna to grab a consolation goal late on. That goal should not deceive them or offer any real comfort, as it is clear they are in a steep decline in form. Victories in the Super Cup and in Europe cannot mask their poor league performances, where they have now gone five matches without a win since that surprising defeat to Cremonese. Inter are in tremendous form and are laying a perfect foundation for the derby against Napoli in seven days’ time, a match in which they should finally show against a direct rival whether they are truly the strongest team in the country.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Cagliari - Milan 0-1 (0-0)

/Leao 50/

Saturday

Como - Udinese 1-0 (1-0)

/De Cunha 18(p)/

Genoa - Pisa 1-1 (1-1)

/Colombo - Leris 38/

Sassuolo - Parma 1-1 (1-1)

/Thorstvedt 12 - Pellegrino 24/

Juventus - Lecce 1-1 (0-1)

/McKennie 49 - Banda 45+1/

Atalanta - Roma 1-0 (1-0)

/Scalvini 12/

Sunday

Lazio - Napoli 0-2 (0-2)

/Spinazzola 13, Rrahmani 32/

Fiorentina - Cremonese 1-0 (0-0)

/Kean 90+1/

Verona - Torino 0-3 (0-1)

/Simeone 10, Casadei 87, Njie 90+1/

Inter - Bologna 3-1 (1-0)

/Zielinski 39, Martinez 48, Thuram 74 - Castro 83/