Inter’s start has fully lived up to the expectations on the eve of the season. Cristian Chivu’s team first overwhelmed Monza 4-1, with a truly superb second half, then conquered Cagliari 1-0, confirming both quality and solidity. It was a narrow result, but one that came at the end of a match dominated by the Nerazzurri, who managed to produce numerous shots on goal and constantly put the Sardinian side under pressure.
Now Inter faces the first real test of the season, on Saturday at San Siro against Massimiliano Allegri’s Napoli. It’s a clash between two of the most anticipated protagonists, as confirmed by the 2027 scudetto odds, which still see Inter as the favorite (2.00) and Napoli at 12.00, less favored compared to Roma (5.00), Juventus (7.50), and Milan (8.00). Even Como (12.00) has the same odds as the Neapolitans, while Atalanta (50.00) and, above all, Lazio (150.00) are further behind, with Bologna and Fiorentina both at 300.00 and therefore at a great distance: a hierarchy that Inter wants to confirm on the pitch as well.
Napoli will arrive at San Siro with three points, after their opening win away at Genoa and the defeat at the Maradona against Como. It was an unexpected setback for Allegri’s team, surprised by a lively and enterprising opponent. Inter, on the other hand, has collected the maximum points and has already shown an impressive condition, especially in terms of offensive production. However, against Napoli, it will be necessary to convert a higher percentage of the chances created into goals.
In this start to the championship, there is also a protagonist who is quickly becoming decisive: Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder has scored two goals, one per matchday, both with very similar long-range shots. First, he opened the match against Monza, then he scored the 1-0 goal away at Cagliari, once again becoming the man capable of unlocking an apparently deadlocked game.
The performance in Cagliari also impressed pundit Massimo Mauro, who highlighted the strength shown by Inter during the match. The Nerazzurri’s dominance was evident despite the narrow scoreline, with Lautaro and his teammates starring in a long series of offensive initiatives. Now Napoli arrives and the clash will be even more telling: Inter has started as well as possible, but Saturday at San Siro could reveal even more about Chivu’s team’s real ambitions.
