Inter return from the international break with the sense that their season has only begun to reveal its full scale. Cristian Chivu’s Italian champions face seven matches in three weeks, starting with Saturday’s meeting with Parma, and the coach is close to having a complete squad at his disposal for the first time.
Hakan Calhanoglu is expected to resume group training at Appiano from tomorrow. Djed Spence, the long-awaited option on the right flank, tested his fitness in the friendly against Lumezzane and could be used for part of the Parma match. John Stones remains the furthest from a return after sustaining a muscle injury against Udinese, with a fresh assessment due in the coming days.
The timing matters. Inter have made a forceful start through five Serie A rounds and have already taken four points more than at the same stage last season, despite scoring only two additional goals. Their opening weeks have not been flawless: three times they have had to recover from 2-0 down. Yet those difficult passages have not altered the broader picture of a side intent on setting the pace again in Italy.
Attack has carried Inter, but Chivu wants greater efficiency
Inter have scored 15 league goals, almost precisely in line with an expected-goals total of 14.68. That balance has been helped by individual quality: Calhanoglu’s long-range strikes and Lautaro Martinez’s composed finishing have turned difficult situations into goals.
There is nevertheless a clear area for improvement. The team have fashioned 28 major scoring opportunities but failed to take 20 of them. Nearly half of their goals have therefore come from finishes requiring unusual skill rather than straightforward chances. Chivu will use this final week without competitive fixtures to work on sharper finishing before the calendar tightens.
That is not a minor detail for a side with ambitions beyond the domestic title race. Inter believe that if they can sustain their best level for 60 or 70 minutes rather than in shorter bursts, they can make a stronger impact in the Champions League than they managed last season.
Control in possession, danger from the wide areas
The early numbers describe a team increasingly comfortable in command of matches. Inter average 63 per cent possession, complete 89.9 per cent of their passes and have a 64.6 per cent success rate with long balls. Their average possession sequence lasts close to 14 seconds, a figure that reflects both their ability to evade pressure and the maturity with which they keep the ball.
They have also become difficult to contain when the tempo rises. Roma experienced that before the break, while Real Madrid were put under pressure late in the Bernabeu meeting and were at risk of being pegged back.
The flanks are an important part of that threat. Andy Diouf has offered width on one side, while Federico Dimarco and Carlos Augusto have combined effectively on the other. Spence’s prospective return should add another option. Inter average 8.2 successful crosses per match, with 37.3 per cent finding their target, giving their attacking play another route when central spaces close.
Defensive balance remains the next task
The main caution lies at the other end. Inter have conceded eight league goals, one more than they had at this point a year ago. The figure underlines the cost of mistakes and the defensive lapses that have forced those recoveries from two-goal deficits.
Chivu’s challenge is therefore not to change a promising start, but to refine it. With reinforcements returning and a demanding sequence ahead, Inter have the depth, technical quality and attacking variety to reinforce their position. The next chapter will depend on whether they can turn their stretches of dominance into a more complete, less forgiving weekly standard.
