Inter 5 - 0 Torino: match report

The nights we had been missing, the nights to come together at home, with the same people, in the colours we love. The start of a new season is always exciting, even if never simple or guaranteed. And the desire to start a new season, to get back running, on this Monday in August, was immense, almost overwhelming. It was impossible to contain the fans' support and affection, their need for Inter, their desire for a road ahead to travel together again. The season opener became a showcase of emotions and memorable moments: five goals, the first three points of the league, two debuts: Bonny and Diouf. Firsts: Sucic starting, Bonny scoring his first goal. And familiar sights: Thuram finding the net, Bastoni scoring and assisting, Captain Lautaro climbing the advertising boards to embrace the fans. This was Inter vs. Torino: an exceptional 5-0 with which Cristian Chivu's team kicked off their Serie A campaign. And for the coach himself, it was his first match on the Inter sidelines at the Meazza. A night to remember.

Inter came out on the front foot from the start. Baroni's Torino, on paper, had attacking options in a lively 4-3-3, but Inter's relentless aggression quickly overwhelmed them, often dominating in their own half. Three of Inter's five goals came from high pressing and quick recoveries. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute with Barella's corner and Bastoni's sharp finish at the near post, heading past Israel with clinical accuracy. Torino tried to respond through Ngonge, but never truly posed a threat. After half an hour, Inter doubled their lead: Sucic, one of today's standout performers, delivered a clever vertical pass for Thuram, who finished with precision, returning to the scoresheet against Torino after last season's hat-trick.

The first half came to an end with Inter dominating, repeatedly trying the Granata goalkeeper, especially with Acerbi's header. Torino showed more resistance at the start of the second half, but Thuram, a true leader, turned up the pressure, and Lautaro capitalised on a back pass from Gineitis to slide in and make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute, before celebrating on top of the advertising boards, a gesture the fans have missed.

With more than 70,000 at the Meazza, the show continued. Bastoni delivered another one of his trademark assists: a perfect cross from the halfway line, and Thuram powered a spectacular header to make it 4-0 in front of his father and brother. Then it was Ange-Yoan Bonny's dream debut, replacing Thuram, he scored his first Inter goal just five minutes in, another high ball recovery turned into a winning finish, assisted by Lautaro.

In the final minutes, Andy Diouf also made his debut, capping off a special night for everyone. Inter's season began in style, with a resounding and well-deserved home victory.

INTER 5-0 TORINO

Goalscorers: 18' Bastoni (I), 36' Thuram (I), 52' Lautaro (I), 62' Thuram (I), 72' Bonny (I)

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 5 Pavard, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni (11 Luis Henrique 86'); 2 Dumfries, 8 Sucic, 23 Barella, 22 Mkhitaryan (7 Zielinski 79'), 32 Dimarco (30 Carlos Augusto 67'); 9 Thuram (14 Bonny, 67'), 10 Lautaro (17 Diouf 79'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 6 De Vrij, 16 Frattesi, 31 Bisseck, 36 Darmian, 42 Palacios. Head Coach: Cristian Chivu.

TORINO (4-3-3): 81 Israel; 20 Lazaro (16 Pedersen 80'), 23 Coco, 5 Masina, 34 Biraghi; 22 Casadei, 6 Ilkhan (61 Tameze 58'), 66 Gineitis; 26 Ngonge (14 Anjorin 80'), 18 Simeone (19 Adams 64'), 10 Vlasic (7 Aboukhlal 58'). Substitutes: 1 Paleari, 71 Popa, 8 Ilic, 13 Maripan, 21 Dembelé, 80 Bianay, 83 Perciun, 91 Zapata, 92 Njie. Head Coach: Marco Baroni.

Stoppage time: 1' - 0'

Referee: La Penna. Assistants: Dei Giudici-Cavallina. Fourth official: Crezzini. VAR: Paterna. VAR assistant: Chiffi.

Suspended Inter: Calhanoglu (1), Esposito P. (1) Torino: - One booking away from suspension Inter: - Torino: -