Marcus Thuram again gave Inter the decisive edge in a comeback that has become a familiar theme at the start of their Serie A campaign. His equaliser against Fiorentina, followed by the penalty he won for Piotr Zielinski to convert, carried the Nerazzurri to victory and kept them at the top of the table alongside Gennaro Gattuso’s Lazio.
The decision
Thuram’s contribution was not limited to the goal that brought Inter level. In the closing stages he attacked his opponent in the box and earned the spot-kick that Zielinski turned into the winning goal.
The French forward spoke with a touch of frustration and humour about the decision, recalling occasions when referees had judged him differently.
“It is strange because the referee often thinks I have gone down too easily,” Thuram said. “I was booked in Bologna and people said it should have been a penalty. Mistakes can happen. I have to keep taking on defenders, and then the penalty will be given, as it was today.”
It was another reminder of Thuram’s importance in Inter’s early rhythm: a forward capable of changing the course of a difficult afternoon, rather than merely finishing a match already under control.
Sunday’s picture
Inter’s ability to recover positions in matches has been one of the recurring features of the opening weeks. Thuram sees that trait as a product of conviction within the squad rather than a late stroke of fortune.
“There is confidence that we can still win, even near the end,” he said. “We did it, and we know we can win every match.”
Asked about his celebration, which echoed Lautaro Martinez, Thuram offered a simple explanation: “Usually he is the one scoring in the final minutes.”
For Inter, the Fiorentina result preserved first place, although not in isolation. Lazio have made an unexpectedly strong start under Gattuso and remain level with the Nerazzurri, ensuring that the first weeks of the championship have already given the table a shared summit.
