Sucic's goal, Mkhi's experience: 5 moments from Inter vs. Parma

As the sun set over San Siro on an autumn afternoon, Inter returned from the international break in impressive fashion. The Nerazzurri approached the game with hunger, determination and a desire to win, enjoy themselves and entertain the fans. They pressed high, won the ball back and pinned Parma back for just over 30 minutes. They were eager to get a packed San Siro celebrating again, with the home crowd always on its feet as Inter attacked from all angles. Sucic and Calhanoglu struck twice in five minutes, between the 13th and 18th minutes, to put Inter in control. Thuram added a third in the 31st minute, setting the stage for a second half in which the Nerazzurri could manage the game while still putting on a show. Chivu was able to manage his players’ workloads, with Mkhitaryan and Sucic completing the full 90 minutes, dominating midfield and remaining dangerous on the counterattack. Djed Spence, meanwhile, made his San Siro debut and, during his 27 minutes on the pitch, showcased the bursts of pace down the right flank that he had displayed with the England national team over the summer. By the final whistle, night had fallen and the three points were safely secured. With Inter now looking ahead to their first home match of the Champions League campaign against Club Brugge on Tuesday, October 12th, let’s relive Inter vs. Parma through five key moments that tell the story of the Nerazzurri’s 3-0 win at the Meazza on Matchday 6.

SUCIC’S HUNGER

“I don’t care about the minutes I play or the role I’m given. I just want to give my all and help the team.” Petar Sucic had just been named Man of the Match when he made these comments about his performance against Parma. He was eager to make an impact and prove his worth in Nerazzurri colors after an international break in which Croatia suffered three defeats in four games. Chivu saw a player raring to go and handed him a starting spot against Parma. The result? The opening goal, tireless running across the pitch, plenty of quality and effective play, and a real show of personality. The goal that broke the deadlock was a perfect reflection of Inter’s approach at the start of the season, with Petar embodying the fighting spirit and high-pressing intensity that the Nerazzurri have been deploying to such good effect. In the 13th minute, after Calhanoglu fired over, Parma restarted play from the goal kick, with Corvi passing to Mandela Keita. The Parma No. 16 received the ball on the edge of his own penalty area with his back to the opposition goal, but Inter were well positioned to press, with the passing options already cut off. Sucic read the situation before anyone else. He was already tight to Keita and reacted quickest as the ball reached the Belgian midfielder’s feet. Petar won possession with a perfectly timed challenge before unleashing a thunderous left-footed strike that flew into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season. His celebration was just as fierce and full of relief, as he marked a goal that had eluded him since May and helped put Inter in control of a game that was far from straightforward, as Chivu acknowledged after the final whistle. Welcome back, Petar!

PIO’S HARD WORK

A striker’s performance is often judged solely on whether they score, but that is a very limited way of assessing Pio Esposito. Fresh off scoring twice for Italy, he was selected by Chivu to partner Thuram up front against Parma. He may not have found the net this time, but he still played a decisive role through his back-to-goal work, an aspect of his game in which he is becoming a master. His reading of the game, movement towards the near post and ability to use his powerful frame, which opposition defenders often struggle to contain without committing fouls, all make him a valuable asset. Pio gives everything for the team and, as Chivu pointed out, the word selfish simply does not exist in his vocabulary. Just two minutes after Sucic opened the scoring, the Nerazzurri striker read Dimarco’s low cross perfectly, getting ahead of Diego Carlos to control the ball inside the box. That sharp movement, which allowed Pio to beat the Brazilian defender to the ball, proved crucial. Arriving late, the Parma defender stood on Esposito’s heel, conceding a penalty that Calhanoglu converted to make it 2-0 to Inter. Beyond winning the penalty, Esposito battled hard, won back possession and provided the lay-off for Mkhitaryan in the build-up to Thuram’s third goal. He was then substituted in the 61st minute to a round of applause from the San Siro crowd.

MKHITARYAN’S EXPERIENCE

Henrikh Mkhitaryan seems to have turned back the clock. Against Parma, he delivered a complete performance, popping up all over the pitch and making his presence felt in every area of midfield. Driving runs, bursts of pace, incisive passes, control of possession and technical precision: the Armenian once again showed the value of experience and professionalism. Always ready to help the team, give his all on the pitch and put his qualities at his teammates’ disposal, he was a constant presence throughout the game. Head up, legs driving forward, quality on the ball: in the 15th minute, he wriggled free in the attacking third and played the ball wide to Dimarco, whose cross led to the penalty that made it 2-0. Then, in the 31st minute, he received the ball in Inter’s half, found Esposito with a forward pass and surged upfield to complete a one-two with Pio, opening up a huge expanse of space to attack. Once again, he made the right decision, threading a perfectly weighted through ball into Thuram’s path. It was an ideal invitation for the Frenchman, who kept his cool and beat Corvi with a right-footed shot across goal that nestled into the bottom corner. He was at it again in the second half, producing an acrobatic overhead-style volley that narrowly missed the target and had San Siro holding its breath. Thuram, who had by then been replaced by Lautaro, was on the edge of his seat on the bench. After the match, Tikus admitted: “I thought it was going in. It would have been an unbelievable goal.” Timeless Henrikh: 90 minutes of footballing class.

CALHA’S BALANCE

Hakan Calhanoglu had not played for a month. His last appearance came at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid, before a physical issue forced him to miss the matches against Udinese and Roma, as well as Turkey’s Nations League fixtures. Remaining at Appiano Gentile, he worked hard to recover and get back to contributing during what promises to be a demanding and important month for Inter, starting with the clash against Parma. Hakan made his mark on the game with his usual intelligent playmaking, as well as the penalty he converted in the 18th minute to put the Nerazzurri two goals ahead. As the match settled into a rhythm of possession and patient passing, he was able to showcase the qualities that make him thrive in those situations. However, Parma still looked to break on the counterattack in the second half, creating a couple of dangerous moments around Martinez’s goal. That was when Calha showed the other side of his game: his ability to bring balance to the team. He shielded the defense, tracked back, won challenges and recovered possession, helping to make Inter’s attacking approach and high defensive line sustainable. Just before the 61st minute, Parma won the ball back in their own half and launched a counterattack, sending Touré forward with Elphege alongside him in a potential two-on-two situation. The Parma forward barely had time to consider his next move before Calha came charging back from behind, dispossessing him with a perfectly timed tackle worthy of an experienced defender. San Siro rose to its feet and applauded as enthusiastically as it would have done for a stunning switch of play or an outrageous dribble. It was a crucial defensive intervention that proved to be Hakan’s final action of the match, as he made way for Aleksandar Stankovic a minute later.

DJED’S DEBUT

The clock showed 73 minutes when Djed Spence’s name first appeared on the giant screens at San Siro. The crowd rose to its feet and greeted the Englishman with a roar as he came on for his official Inter debut. A smile spread across his face, while his eyes reflected the emotion of stepping out in front of the Nerazzurri faithful for the first time. Once on the pitch, however, Spence wasted no time in showing his confidence. Just a few minutes later, he burst forward with his first explosive run, drawing cheers from the stands. His low cross towards Bonny, waiting at the far post, was diverted behind for a corner. With the result all but secured, Inter were managing the game, but Spence was determined to make an immediate impact. In the 83rd minute, he delivered a perfectly weighted cross onto Lautaro’s head. The captain’s effort narrowly missed the target, sailing just over the crossbar. There was still time for another counterattack and another powerful burst down the right, where the Englishman seemed to fly whenever he opened up his stride. Spence himself started a move that developed around the edge of Parma’s penalty area and ended with Bonny, who was once again denied by the Gialloblù defense. After patiently waiting to reach peak fitness, Spence is now ready to make his contribution in Nerazzurri colors. As the final whistle sounded, San Siro celebrated the victory, and Spence received his first applause from a jubilant Meazza. His journey with Inter has officially begun.