Inter Milan Clinch 21st Serie A Title with 2-0 Win Over Parma

Key facts

• Inter Milan beat Parma 2-0 at San Siro to secure their 21st Serie A title.
• Marcus Thuram scored in first-half added time; Henrikh Mkhitaryan added the second in the 80th minute.
• Inter have a 12-point lead over defending champions Napoli with three matches remaining.
• Cristian Chivu won his first major trophy as a coach, having won Serie A three times as a player with Inter.
• Inter can complete a league and cup double if they beat Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13.
• The San Siro was filled with blue and black celebrations; thousands gathered at Milan's Duomo cathedral.
• Inter have scored 19 goals in their past six matches and won 26 of 35 league games this season.

Scudetto Secured at San Siro

Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title on Sunday with a commanding 2-0 victory over Parma at a jubilant San Siro. Needing only a point to seal the Scudetto with three games to spare, the Nerazzurri delivered a dominant performance that ignited celebrations across Milan. France forward Marcus Thuram opened the scoring in first-half added time, powering a right-footed finish past Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Inter had to wait until the 80th minute for the decisive second goal, when captain Lautaro Martinez sent the ball across the face of goal for fellow substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan to slot home. The win moved Inter 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli and 15 points ahead of third-placed AC Milan, rendering the remaining fixtures a formality.

Chivu's Redemption Arc

The triumph marks a remarkable turnaround for Inter under head coach Cristian Chivu, who took over last summer as a surprise replacement for Simone Inzaghi. Inzaghi had won six trophies and reached two Champions League finals in four seasons but left for a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia. Chivu, a former Inter player who had steered Parma to top-flight safety at the end of last season, was almost a novice at this level when appointed. Yet with small steps and few new signings, he has breathed new life into the side, overcoming the traumatic end to last season when Inter lost the 2025 title race by a point and suffered a 5-0 humiliation by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. "Today, we are all happy, but we must not forget all the work accomplished, because it was very difficult to start again after the end of last season when we lost in all the competitions we could win," Inter captain Lautaro Martinez said.

Dominant Statistics Underline Title Credentials

Inter's superiority was evident in the match statistics: they had five of their 12 shots on target compared to Parma's none from four, enjoyed 59% possession, and created three big chances. The Nerazzurri have scored 19 goals in their past six matches and won 26 of their 35 league games this season. Chivu had told the media before the game that Inter wanted to "kill off" the Scudetto "as soon as possible." His side responded with a performance that left no doubt, bouncing back from a 2-2 draw with Torino the previous weekend where they had surrendered a 2-0 lead. "When you are up 2-0, you think everything is easy and that you have everything under control," Chivu said after that draw. "Then, you concede to make it 2-1 because of a mistake while playing out from the back, and the ghosts start creeping in; you get nervous."

A Title Won Against Former Employer

Ironically, Inter sealed the Scudetto against Chivu's former employers, Parma, whom he had guided to top-flight safety at the end of last season. Yet the head coach dismissed any sentimental attachment, stating: "Zero. I'm only focused on my job and my duty. I don't think about emotions." Parma, currently 12th in Serie A, offered little resistance as Inter dominated from start to finish. The visiting side failed to register a single shot on target, underscoring the gulf in class between the champions-elect and the mid-table team.

Double in Sight as Coppa Italia Final Awaits

Inter can complete the third league and cup double in their history if they beat Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Chivu's side will enter that match as clear favorites, having already demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure. The title also ensures Inter's place in next season's Champions League group stage, though the club's ambitions extend beyond domestic success. The victory represents a return to the top of Italian football after a one-year hiatus, with Napoli's reign as champions ending after a single season.

Celebrations Across Milan

The San Siro was a sea of blue and black as fans celebrated their team's 21st Italian title. Thousands of supporters also gathered in front of Milan's Duomo cathedral, waving flags and setting off flares in a display of collective joy. Blue and gold ribbons littered the pitch at the final whistle as players embraced and Chivu celebrated his first major prize as a coach. For the fans, the title is a vindication of the club's decision to appoint a relatively inexperienced coach and trust in a squad that had tasted bitter disappointment just months earlier.

Title Race Implications and What Comes Next

With three matches remaining, Inter's focus will now shift to the Coppa Italia final and maintaining their momentum. The club has already secured a 12-point cushion over Napoli, who stayed within the title race only mathematically after a goalless draw with Como on Saturday. AC Milan relinquished their last slim hope of catching Inter by losing 2-0 at mid-table Sassuolo, while Juventus drew 1-1 at home with relegated Verona, missing a chance to take third place. The Turin giants did, however, climb three points clear of Como in the chase for the fourth Champions League qualifying spot. For Chivu and his players, the immediate task is to complete the double and cement their place in Inter's storied history. As the coach said before the title-clinching match: "It's our dream. It started nine months ago. I think about taking home one of the season's objectives."

The bottom line

• Inter Milan won their 21st Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over Parma, moving 12 points clear with three games left.
• Cristian Chivu, in his first season as head coach, led Inter to the Scudetto after replacing Simone Inzaghi.
• Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the goals that sealed the title at San Siro.
• Inter can achieve a league and cup double by beating Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13.
• The title ends Napoli's one-year reign as champions and marks Inter's third Serie A crown in six seasons.
• Chivu's side overcame last season's heartbreak, including losing the title by a point and a Champions League final defeat.