Inter Milan emphatically reclaimed the Serie A crown on Monday night, crushing rivals AC Milan 2-1 in a thrilling Milan derby to secure their 20th Scudetto. Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram’s goals built an unassailable 17-point lead with five matches remaining, marking a triumphant return to the top for the Nerazzurri and breaking a recent cycle of title volatility in Italy’s top flight.
Inter’s dominance this season has been a sight to behold. After AC Milan snatched the title in 2022, followed by Napoli’s surprise triumph in 2023, Inter roared back with relentless consistency. Their victory not only marks a first league triumph for coach Simone Inzaghi but also earns them a prestigious second star on their jersey – a mark reserved for teams with 20 or more Italian league titles. Juventus remains the league’s most-decorated club, with 36 championships.
Monday’s rain-soaked San Siro crackled with the intensity of the Milan derby, one of the fiercest rivalries in world football. Inter seized control early, with Francesco Acerbi’s 18th-minute header sending the travelling fans into a frenzy. Marcus Thuram’s brilliant individual strike after halftime further cemented Inter’s dominance.
Despite a valiant late effort from Milan, including Fikayo Tomori’s goal to set up a tense finale, Inter held firm. The chaotic ending saw three red cards issued, underscoring the fiery nature of the iconic rivalry.
“I feel like crying because we worked so hard; we deserve this joy,” said an emotional Inter captain, Lautaro Martinez. “It’s been wonderful, but we have to keep going because we’ve already won a lot of trophies, and we want to win many more.”
Inter’s surge to the title was fueled by a combination of factors. Key players like Martinez and Nicolo Barella have committed their futures to the club, while shrewd transfer moves and increased revenue have helped mitigate the financial strains of the COVID-19 pandemic. With stars like Thuram poised to stay and reinforcements like Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi arriving in the summer, the future looks bright for Inter Milan.