Inter Milan Clinch 21st Scudetto with 2-0 Victory Over Parma

Key facts

• Inter Milan won their 21st Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma at San Siro.
• Marcus Thuram opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time.
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the win in the 80th minute.
• Inter moved 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli with three games remaining.
• Cristian Chivu won his first major prize as a coach.
• Inter had 59% possession and five shots on target to Parma's none.
• The victory came after Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw at Como the previous day.
• Thousands of fans celebrated in Piazza del Duomo with flares and fireworks.

Title Decided at San Siro

Inter Milan secured their 21st Serie A title on Sunday with a commanding 2-0 victory over Parma at San Siro, a result that ended Napoli's hopes of retaining the Scudetto. Needing only a point to clinch the championship with three matches left, Inter dominated from the outset, with Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring the decisive goals. The win moved Inter to 82 points, 12 clear of second-placed Napoli, who had been held to a goalless draw at Como the previous day. The title is Inter's first since 2024 and comes a year after the club suffered the heartbreak of losing the league on the final day and a heavy defeat in the Champions League final.

Thuram and Mkhitaryan Strike

France forward Marcus Thuram broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, collecting a through ball from Piotr Zielinski and powering a right-footed finish past Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. The goal sparked a frenzy among the home supporters, who had seen Nicolo Barella hit the crossbar earlier in the half. Inter had to wait until the 80th minute for their second. Substitute Lautaro Martinez sent a low cross across the face of goal, and fellow substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 37, slotted home to seal the victory. The goal triggered wild celebrations, with blue and gold ribbons littering the pitch.

Chivu's Redemption and First Major Prize

For head coach Cristian Chivu, the title was his first major prize as a coach, having won Serie A three times as a player with Inter. Chivu, who previously steered Parma to top-flight safety, dismissed any sentimental links to his former club before the match. "Zero. I'm only focused on my job and my duty," he said. Chivu had told the media before the game that Inter wanted to "kill off" the Scudetto as soon as possible, a sentiment he repeated after the match. "It's our dream. It started nine months ago," he added. "I think about taking home one of the season's objectives."

Dominant Display and Statistical Superiority

Inter controlled the match from start to finish, registering 59% possession and five shots on target from 12 attempts, while Parma failed to test the goalkeeper with any of their four shots. The hosts created three big chances and limited the visitors to none. The dominance was reflected in the scoreline, but Inter had to be patient. Federico Dimarco delivered a near-perfect cross to Denzel Dumfries in the closing stages, but the defender failed to control his first touch, sending the close-range effort high over the bar. Mkhitaryan's goal eventually put the result beyond doubt.

Celebrations Erupt Across Milan

Moments after the final whistle, thousands of Inter supporters flooded the streets of Milan, with Piazza del Duomo filled with fans clad in blue and black. Flares and fireworks lit up the night sky as the city celebrated its first Serie A title in two years. The atmosphere stood in stark contrast to a year ago, when supporters faced the combined heartbreak of losing the league title to Napoli on the final day and suffering a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. "We feel so happy now," said Lautaro Martinez. "It was not easy to start again after a season where we lost all the competitions we were in right at the end."

Redemption After Last Season's Heartbreak

Inter's triumph offered redemption after a painful 2024-25 campaign. The club lost the Serie A title on the last match day before being thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Martinez acknowledged the difficulty of bouncing back: "Perhaps many didn't see us being favourites considering what happened last term, but we worked so hard on and off the field." Inter have scored 19 goals in their past six matches and won 26 of their 35 league games this season, underlining their dominance. The title is the club's 21st, moving them closer to Juventus's record of 36 Scudetti.

What Lies Ahead for Inter and Parma

With three matches remaining, Inter can now focus on finishing the season strongly and potentially chasing records. The club's immediate priority will be to celebrate the title and prepare for next season's Champions League campaign. For Parma, who sit 12th in the table, the defeat was a setback but not a disaster. The club had already secured top-flight safety under Chivu last season and will look to build for the future. The match also marked a poignant return for Chivu, who had guided Parma to safety before moving to Inter.

The bottom line

• Inter Milan won their 21st Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over Parma, moving 12 points clear of Napoli.
• Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the goals, with Mkhitaryan sealing the win in the 80th minute.
• Cristian Chivu won his first major trophy as a coach, having previously won three Serie A titles as a player with Inter.
• Inter dominated statistically, with 59% possession and five shots on target to Parma's none.
• The title comes a year after Inter lost the league on the final day and the Champions League final.
• Thousands of fans celebrated in Milan's Piazza del Duomo with flares and fireworks.