It’s party time at Giuseppe Meazza as new Serie A champions Inter face Parma on Sunday night, looking to celebrate their 21st Scudetto in style. Napoli’s home draw against Como yesterday only confirmed the inevitable, with the Nerazzurri returning to the throne after last season’s heartbreak.
Simone Inzaghi failed to win a trophy in his final season at the club. However, his successor, Cristian Chivu, has achieved phenomenal things in his first season in charge of the 2010 ‘treble’ winners. Despite lacking experience in senior management, the 45-year-old has become only the fourth manager in Serie A history to win the title before turning 50.
With Inter set to take on out-of-sorts Lazio in the Coppa Italia final later this month, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Chivu could become the first Nerazzurri boss since Jose Mourinho to win a coveted domestic double. But for now, the newly-crowned champions must focus on throwing another spectacle in front of a sold-out San Siro.
Visiting Parma served as a launchpad for Chivu’s managerial career in Serie A, as he helped the Crusaders avoid the drop last term. Appropriately, the Romanian tactician now prepares to celebrate the greatest achievement of his young managerial career against the very club that first gave him a chance in the Serie A dugout.
However, Chivu and his charges would be naive to underestimate Parma, as the visitors head into this round on the back of two consecutive victories.
Inter
It has been a truly outstanding season for Inter despite their underwhelming Champions League exit at the hands of Bodo/Glimt. With 25 wins in 34 Serie A matches, they’ve been a force to be reckoned with, setting the benchmark high, only one season after a series of heartbreaks, including an embarrassing defeat in the 2025 Champions League final.
Furthermore, Chivu’s men have bagged a league-high 80 goals this term, netting at least 21 more goals than any other side in the division. Particularly impressive at home, Inter have scored a jaw-dropping 47 goals in just 17 Serie A games at San Siro, averaging 2.76 per match. Therefore, it’s no wonder they boast a resounding 88% unbeaten ratio on this ground (W13, D2, L2).
Virtually unplayable as hosts, Inter have racked up eight victories across their last ten home league outings (D2), including a pair of three-goal margin wins over Cagliari and Roma in their most recent two. Another dominant triumph could be on the cards, given that the Nerazzurri haven’t lost any of their last nine meetings with Parma (W6, D3).
Parma
Parma fell to a 2-0 home loss in January’s reverse fixture, conceding at least two goals in their eighth consecutive clash against Inter. However, the Crusaders have been a tricky opposition for the Nerazzurri, avoiding defeat in 58% of their Serie A encounters overall (33/57). Moreover, they had gone five consecutive away league matches without losing at San Siro before a 3-1 loss last term.
Unbeaten in four straight league games (W2, D2), Carlos Cuesta’s men now go in search of another upset, looking to close the gap on the upper half of the standings. Indeed, the visitors trail 10th-placed Udinese by five points, meaning they could still secure their first top-half finish in Serie A since the 2013/14 season.
A lack of firepower in the front third might be an issue for Parma, whose meager average of 0.74 goals per league match stands among the weakest in Serie A this term. That unenviable record has not stopped them from going unbeaten in five of their last six away league fixtures (W3, D2), including a couple of stellar victories over Milan and Bologna.
Struggling with a niggling muscle injury, standout midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu won’t be at Chivu’s disposal. The same applies to underperforming winger Luis Henrique, though Denzel Dumfries would’ve started on the right flank anyway. On a more positive note, talismanic goalscorer Lautaro Martinez has regained full fitness, with the Argentine expected to partner up with free-scoring Marcus Thuram in the final third.
On the other hand, Parma will take this trip without Inter Miami loanee Benjamin Cremaschi and Croatian forward Matija Frigan. Cuesta’s hopes of upsetting the apple cart will likely rest on the shoulders of Mateo Pellegrino, who has been the visitors’ top scorer this season with eight goals.
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
Parma (3-5-2): Suzuki; Circati, Troilo, Ndiaye; Delprato, Keita, Nicolussi Caviglia, Bernabe, Valeri; Strefezza, Pellegrino.
Stretching their six-game unbeaten Serie A streak with another win would be a fitting way for Inter to celebrate their second Scudetto in three years. Despite Parma’s recent uptick in form, it’s hard to imagine the Crusaders spoiling their hosts’ title parade.
Prediction: Inter to Win
