国际米兰回归：坐镇梅阿查3 - 0横扫帕尔马

Perhaps it was only tonight that we truly realised just how much we had missed Inter. How much we had missed watching this team entertain, excite and make us feel good. Those familiar emotions returned in an instant on this October evening in Milano, with a cool breeze drifting through the city and the first signs of autumn beginning to show. Three goals, three points and a whirlwind opening half-hour were enough for Inter to take complete control of the game against Parma and all but settle the contest before the break.

It was an evening of surging runs into space, perfectly weighted through balls, sharp first-time combinations and a team determined to show its quality. Parma tried to play, to build from the back and impose themselves, but there was little they could do against this version of Inter – the one we have come to know so well in recent years. At this level, one mistake can open up an entire pitch. Petar Sucic made Parma pay in the 13th minute, pouncing on Keita after Corvi’s short goal kick before thumping the ball into the net. Two minutes later, Pio Esposito was brought down in the box by Diego Carlos. Hakan Calhanoglu, back from injury, stepped up and was as ice-cold as ever from the spot: by the 18th minute, it was already 2-0. Parma were rattled and struggled to recover. Just when they looked ready to push forward and gain territory, they left space behind and against an Inter midfield playing with this much rhythm and confidence, that was always going to be dangerous. The third arrived in the 31st minute. Mkhitaryan released Thuram into space and Marcus did the rest, racing clear before finishing across goal. It was his fifth goal in five appearances against Parma, and an almost perfect replica of the Scudetto-clinching strike he scored against the same opponents last May, at the very same end of San Siro.

The rest of the match flew by, just like Inter themselves. Chivu’s side remained on the front foot, playing with pace and confidence, and the second half still produced plenty of quality, clever touches and chances to add to the scoreline. Spence also made his Inter debut, immediately showing his remarkable pace down the right after receiving a warm welcome from the San Siro crowd. It was that kind of night: warm, joyful and full of affection. And by the final whistle, one thing was clearer than ever. Yes, Inter, we really had missed you.

THE MATCH

A night of returns and new beginnings. Against Parma, Chivu brought Calhanoglu back into the starting XI at the base of midfield, while Dimarco returned on the left and wore the captain’s armband. Two important comebacks for Inter, with two key figures from the Club’s recent success back in the side. Diouf, Sucic and Mkhitaryan completed the midfield five, while Bisseck lined up in the centre of defence alongside Pavard and Carlos Augusto. Up front, Thuram partnered Pio Esposito. For his first game in charge of Parma, Gilardino mirrored Inter’s shape and opted for a physical approach in an attempt to disrupt the Nerazzurri’s rhythm. Sierro was tasked with tracking Calhanoglu closely, while Diego Carlos and Troilo anchored the Gialloblù defence. On nights like this, though, Inter are difficult to contain. From the opening exchanges, the Nerazzurri repeatedly found space in Parma’s half, with Diouf and Thuram in particular using their pace to stretch the visitors’ back line. In the fourth minute, Andy burst to the byline before being challenged, with the loose ball falling to Dimarco. His first-time effort with the outside of his boot was comfortably gathered by Corvi. Parma were cautious about committing too many players forward and instead looked to threaten on the break. One such move came in the sixth minute, when Martinez dealt comfortably with Elphege’s effort. Inter, meanwhile, were clicking into gear. In the 12th minute, Sucic used the outside of his boot to release Dimarco, whose cross reached Thuram at the far post. The Frenchman kept the move alive and the ball eventually fell to Calhanoglu on the edge of the box, but his first-time strike flew over. San Siro barely had time to draw breath before Inter struck. Keita dropped deep to receive Corvi’s short pass, but Sucic read the situation perfectly, stole possession and immediately unleashed a thunderous effort into the net. It was 1-0, a goal so sudden that even the cameras struggled to catch it live. Inter then landed a second blow almost immediately. Esposito was excellent at holding the ball up inside the area and bringing others into play, before being brought down by Diego Carlos in the 15th minute. After a VAR review, the penalty was awarded. Calhanoglu stepped up and, on his return from injury, was as composed as ever from the spot, squeezing his effort under Corvi to make it 2-0 in the 18th minute. The game was being played at a pace Parma simply could not match. The visitors tried to push higher up the pitch, but every step forward left space behind their midfield line. Mkhitaryan exploited it perfectly in the 31st minute, sliding a precise through ball into Thuram’s path. Marcus raced clear, entered the box and finished across Corvi for 3-0. It came from almost the same position as his previous San Siro goal against Parma, scored on the night Inter clinched their 21st Scudetto. It was also Thuram’s fifth goal in five appearances against the club from the city where he was born. From that point on, Inter slowed the game down, controlled possession and saw out the rest of the first half with complete authority.

The second half was largely a procession for the Nerazzurri, although they came flying out of the blocks once again. Thuram’s backheel released Dimarco down the left, whose inviting cross was met well by Esposito, only for Corvi to make the save. Inter continued to pour forward and the Parma goal quickly came under sustained pressure. Thuram went close after being sent into space by Calhanoglu in the 51st minute, before Dimarco tried his luck three minutes later. Parma struggled to mount a response, with Troilo’s header over the bar one of their few openings. Chivu then introduced Bonny, Lautaro and Stankovic, but Inter kept the tempo high thanks in particular to the energy of Sucic and Mkhitaryan. The Armenian nearly produced one of the goals of the night in the 70th minute, sending an acrobatic overhead effort narrowly wide. Luis Henrique and Djed Spence were introduced late on, with the latter receiving a huge ovation from San Siro as he made his Inter debut. The crowd were soon on their feet again when the Englishman tore down the right at full speed on his first burst forward. As the game opened up, Parma had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit through Romero, who had replaced Elphege. At the other end, Lautaro continued to battle for every ball and went close in the 83rd minute, heading just over from another Spence cross. The result, though, had long since been beyond doubt. It finished 3-0 to Inter, the perfect way to return to Serie A action after the international break. The Nerazzurri will now be back at San Siro on Tuesday 13 October for their first home game of the 2026/27 Champions League campaign, against Club Brugge.

INTER 3-0 PARMA

Goals: 13' Sucic (I), 18' pen. Calhanoglu (I), 31' Thuram (I)

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Martinez; 28 Pavard, 31 Bisseck, 30 Carlos Augusto; 17 Diouf (99 Spence 73'), 8 Sucic, 20 Calhanoglu (5 Stankovic 61'), 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (11 Luis Henrique 73'); 94 Esposito (14 Bonny 61'), 9 Thuram (10 Lautaro 61'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 49 Provedel, 7 Zielinski, 23 Barella, 25 Akanji, 46 Bovio, 95 Bastoni. Coach: Cristian Chivu

PARMA (3-5-2): 40 Corvi; 37 Troilo, 34 Diego Carlos, 29 Carboni (27 Britschgi 78'); 15 Delprato, 80 Fabbian (76 Lontani 62'), 4 Sierro (10 Bernabé 62'), 16 Keita, 14 Valeri; 19 Touré (20 Frigan 84'), 23 Elphege (9 Romero 62'). Substitutes: 22 Ghidotti, 30 Daffara, 7 Diallo Thiao, 8 Cremaschi, 32 Ordonez, 47 Konaté, 70 D. Diallo, 72 Drobnic. Coach: Alberto Gilardino

Stoppage time: 2' - 2'

Referee: Bonacina Assistants: Fontani - Barone Fourth official: Manganiello VAR: Paterna AVAR: Massimi