Inter have reached the early summit of Serie A alongside Roma on 13 points, driven by an attack that has given Cristian Chivu’s side a powerful start to the campaign. Fifteen goals in five league matches have made the Nerazzurri the division’s highest scorers, even as their defensive record remains the clear area for improvement.
Chivu’s team have conceded eight times across those opening five rounds, leaving them with the 12th-best defence in the league. Cagliari have allowed only two goals, while Roma and Lazio have conceded three. Milan, Frosinone and Juventus are on four, followed by Como, Napoli and Bologna on six, with Atalanta and Parma having let in seven.
That contrast has defined Inter’s opening chapter: a side capable of controlling matches and repeatedly creating danger, but one which has not yet found the balance at the back that the coach and club will expect over a long season.
Chivu’s Inter set the attacking pace
The volume and quality of Inter’s attacking work explain why the goals total is no accident. Their 15 strikes are closely aligned with an expected-goals figure of 14.68, suggesting that the return has been supported by the chances they have produced rather than an unsustainable run of finishing.
Inter lead the league in a number of possession and distribution measures. They average 63 per cent possession, complete 89.9 per cent of their passes and make 548 successful passes per match. Their average spell on the ball lasts 13.92 seconds, further illustrating their ability to establish control in games.
The same pattern is visible in their wider and longer distribution. Inter complete 8.2 crosses per game at a 37.3 per cent accuracy rate, while their long-pass accuracy stands at 64.6 per cent. The figures point to a team building attacks from different areas of the pitch and sustaining pressure on opponents.
The chances still being left behind
For all the goals, Inter’s start has also left room for a higher return. They have created 28 big chances but converted only eight of them, meaning 20 clear opportunities have gone unclaimed.
It is a significant number for a team already averaging three goals per game. Inter’s only match without a win came in Rome, a difficult fixture in its own right, but the broader trend remains clear: the leaders have produced enough openings to make their start even stronger.
The next task for Chivu is therefore twofold. Inter must tighten a defence that has been unusually vulnerable by the standards expected of a title contender, while retaining the attacking initiative that has taken them to the top of the table. If they become more ruthless in front of goal as well, their early numbers offer considerable encouragement for the months ahead.
