Cristian Chivu could not have imagined a better debut on his first bench as coach of Inter in Serie A. The Romanian coach managed to overcome Torino 5-0 thanks to his players, immediately winning the trust of the entire San Siro with a performance to remember.
With the start of the new season, one of the most popular columns of Passione Inter also returns: thanks to the contribution of our reporter at the stadium, the new season of ‘Things you didn’t see in Inter-Torino’ resumes, which we present again in our analysis.
1) Inter imposed their rhythm from the start, forcing Torino into errors in the build-up and striking with verticality. Chivu’s influence was immediately visible, even within a structure still recognizable as ‘Inzaghian’. The most evident element, however, was the ruthlessness: with 1.61 xG, Inter scored 5 goals, converting all five big chances created. This figure stands out when compared to Torino, who remained at 0 goals despite 0.98 xG. It is the first time since the 6-0 against Lazio in December 2024 that the Nerazzurri have scored at least five goals, while the San Siro crowd had not seen more than four home goals since the 5-1 derby against Milan (September 2023).
2) The best player on the pitch for the Passione Inter community was by far Petar Sucic. The former Dinamo Zagreb, in his Serie A debut, lit up the midfield: 91% passing accuracy, second best Inter stat in tackles, perfect assist for Thuram and a record for kilometers covered in the match. A debut that has already made many fans fall in love, to the point of seriously threatening Mkhitaryan’s place with the return of Calhanoglu from suspension. Chivu deployed him as a mezzala, leaving Barella with playmaking duties: an interesting choice, which may not be definitive. The Sardinian midfielder showed some imprecision, but his 120 balls played and 102 successful passes confirm that he can adapt to this role if needed.
3) If Sucic was the surprise, the Thuram–Lautaro duo was the certainty. The Frenchman scored a brace, returning to being the physical and dominant center forward of last season: 8 duels won out of 15 (5 on the ground and 3 aerial), a constant presence that dragged the team. Next to him, Lautaro showed already brilliant physical condition and that killer instinct in front of goal that was missing at this time last year. His poacher’s goal testifies to his good personal and team moment. With Bonny immediately involved and Pio Esposito ready to grow, the attacking department seems to be starting better than last season.
4) However, the uncertainty related to the transfer market remains. Chivu avoided direct statements, while Marotta was clear: without sales, no new strikers will arrive. A stance that leaves some perplexity: just a few weeks ago Inter was ready to invest 45 million on Lookman, now instead a new addition seems unnecessary. Have Bonny and Pio Esposito convinced so much as to fill the gap? An open question, also because even Tomas Palacios, who is about to transfer to Santos in these hours, ended up on the bench against Torino.
5) From a fan perspective, the evening was not one of great choreographies: the absence of the Curva Nord groups was felt, but the goals fired up the crowd. Unfortunately, there were also negative notes: several fans reported objects being thrown from the Torino section, with the real risk of even hitting children. Some spectators even left the stadium out of fear. Thus, the demand to introduce protective nets, already present in many European stadiums to ensure greater safety for all fans, is growing.
