Inter “are still a work in execution”, according to the new boss Cristian Chivu, whose team is hiring Torino in their Series A opener on Monday.
In the past term, the Nerazzurri first stumbled in the semi-final of Coppa Italia and lost to City Rivals AC Milan and then missed the Serie A-title to Napoli with a single point in a dramatic last day. Their season ended with a heavy Champions League-defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, which would resist Intaghi and join Al-Hilal.
Inzaghi leaves large shoes to fill, with Inter to the Serie A-title in 2023-24, two Coppa Italia triumphs and two Champions League finals.
After rejections from Como's Cesc Fabregas and former internal player Patrick Vieira, the Club Cristian Chivu appointed one of their Treble winners of 2010 and a former youth coach who successfully kept Parma relegated from relegation last season – as their new head coach.
Inter starts a Series A season with a foreign coach for the first time since 2016, when Frank de Boer was in charge.
The last time the Nerazzurri won their opening competition under a foreign coach, however, was far back in 2003 with Hector Cuper, who led them to a 2-0 home victory against Modena. Since then they have recorded three draw-two with Jose Mourinho and one with Rafael Benitez and one defeat under the farmer in their last four opening day League matches.
A nerazzurro bond #forzainter pic.twitter.com/fmqcgtm2yv
– Inter (@inter_en) 24 August 2025
Inter, which participated in the club World Cup, enjoyed a productive summer on the transfer market, with five new players, including Luis Henrique and Andy Diouf from Marseille and Lens, respectively from Marseille and Lens Landen.
Chivu discussed on Monday Serie A Curtain-Raiser and it for the coming season and said: “We worked well these four weeks. It was a short but intense in advance. We did not confront too many difficulties. The team trained hard and the players gave everything.
“As always, we have done some things well and others less. We are still a work in progress, and we want to continue to improve, both individually and collectively. We are ready to start, and we can't wait.
“I am proud of being Inter's coach. I am aware of the responsibility and what I try to bring to the team. If you give everything you have – time, energy and knowledge – things become easier.”
In the meantime, Torino has drawn their last two season openers in the Serie A, with a scoreless draw against Cagliari in 2023-24, followed by a 2-2 draw with Milan in 2024-25.
Players to watch
Inter – Marcus Thuram
Thuram has registered 18 target statements in recent years and has enjoyed the opponents of Monday in recent years.
The Frenchman has found it just four times against Torino in the Serie A, which is at least two more goals than he has scored against another opponent in the competition.
This count includes its only hat trick in the top five European competitions, reached in October. Moreover, during the 2024-25 season, the French attacker registered a personal record by scoring 14 goals-the highest number he has ever scored in a single season in the Big Five European competitions.
Torino – Che Adams
After he was signed for Torino last year, after he had helped Southampton returning to the Premier League, Scottish International Adams enjoyed a solid debut season in Italy.
Adams yielded nine goals and helped three out of 36 Series A appearances and closed the campaign as the best goal scorer in the club.
Match -Prepeling: Inter Win
Inter has remained unbeaten in their last 12 Serie A collision with Torino, won 11 and draw only once.
They also won each of their last six meetings against the Granata in the competition, with a total score of 12-2. Their only longer winning series against Torino came between September 2002 and September 2008, when they won seven consecutive games.
This upcoming competition marks the sixth time Inter and Torino meet on the opening day of a Serie A season. In their previous five season openers, Inter is unbeaten with three victories and two draws, where clean sheets are maintained in all those matches and Torino defeated 4-0.
Torino has struggled in San Siro and went 18 Serie A matches without a victory at Meazza (five draws and 13 losses), with their last victory that goes back until April 2016 (a 2-1 win over Inter).
Under the Serie A-Teams from 2025-26, only Lecce (23) and Hellas Verona (67) have longer current Winless Streaks in San Siro.
Opta wins probability
Inter – 63.6%
Drawing – 19.9%
Torino – 16.5%