Inter Milan have brought their stuttering Serie A title defense back on track following an unimpressive league start.
But according to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, the situation at Giuseppe Meazza this season is far from idyllic.
Indeed, Inter had no match in Serie A last term, breezing to their 20th Scudetto in formidable fashion.
Only the relegated Sassuolo got the better of Simone Inzaghi’s side in 2023/24.
Perhaps paradoxically, the Neroverdi pulled off an unlikely league double over Inter.
However, the Nerazzurri excelled when it mattered most.
To put into perspective, Inter boasted an outstanding win ratio of 76%, winning 29 of their 38 league outings.
It’s equally significant to note they won a vast majority of their high-profile top-flight clashes en route to the title.
A 5-1 demolition of AC Milan at the beginning of last season probably best illustrated Inter’s domestic dominance.
But the script has flipped this season.
Alarming Stats Show Inter Milan Decline in Serie A High-Profile Clashes
To begin with, Inter squandered a six-game winning streak against Milan in mid-September.
Matteo Gabbia’s late winner handed the Rossoneri a rare Derby della Madonnina triumph in recent years.
If it’s any consolation, that remains Inter’s solitary defeat in all competitions this term.
However, percentages are dropping, especially against direct Scudetto rivals.
Inter threw away a two-goal lead in a goal-glutted 4-4 Derby d’Italia stalemate against Juventus last month.
But they did claw back from a deficit to hold Napoli last weekend.
Hakan Calhanoglu wasted a crucial penalty in the second half, condemning the Nerazzurri to a frustrating 1-1 draw.
It’s worth mentioning that all those heavyweight fixtures came after Inter’s UEFA Champions League duties.
That only fuels speculation over Inzaghi’s overwhelming desire to achieve continental glory at the expense of domestic success.
However, there’s plenty of time for Inter to undo the damage.