Inter Milan clinched the Serie A title on Monday with a 2-1 victory over AC Milan, securing their sixth consecutive derby win and an insurmountable lead at the league's summit. Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram scored for Inter, giving them a 17-point cushion over second-placed Milan with five games left. This victory marked Inter's 20th league triumph, with their previous win in 2021, followed by AC Milan in 2022 and Napoli last year.
For Simone Inzaghi, this was his first league title as a manager. In a cold and wet evening at San Siro, he proudly walked in front of Inter's "away" fans amidst a 75,000-strong crowd, who cheered and set off fireworks at the final whistle. Milan tried to stage a late comeback after Fikayo Tomori's goal, but Inter held firm to start their title celebrations.
"I feel like crying because we worked so hard, we deserve this joy," said tearful captain Lautaro Martinez. Inter now joins Juventus as the second team with 20 Italian league titles and will add a second star to their jersey, with Juventus leading with 36 league crowns.
Inzaghi's team dominated the league, winning the title by defeating Milan and leaving Milan's coach Pioli on the brink of dismissal. Despite early challenges from Juventus and a disappointing Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid, Inter's domestic dominance remained unchallenged.
Looking ahead, Inzaghi, Martinez, and midfielder Nicolo Barella are set to renew their contracts, while smart transfer decisions and increased revenue have helped Inter navigate the financial challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. With new signings like Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi on the way, Inter's future looks bright as they aim to build on their recent success.
On the field, Inter took the lead in the 18th minute through Acerbi's header, followed by Thuram's goal after halftime. Despite a late scare from Tomori's goal, Inter held on for the win, with both Milan and Inter finishing the game with ten men after a flurry of red cards in stoppage time.
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