Inter Milan’s Serie A Title Hopes Hang in the Balance Ahead of Torino Clash
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Inter Milan will aim to resurrect their fading Serie A title hopes when they face Torino on Sunday, just five days after their incredible comeback in the Champions League semi-finals. The Nerazzurri trail Napoli by three points in the Scudetto race, with just three rounds remaining.
According to Sports Mole, Inter’s 7-6 victory over Barcelona – played over two intense legs, at Montjuic and in Milan – brought out the very best in Italy’s reigning champions. There were just three minutes left when Barca completed their own fightback to lead 3-2 on Tuesday night, but veteran defender Francesco Acerbi then popped up in the opposition box to smash home an equaliser that heralded extra time.
During the additional 30 minutes, Davide Frattesi clinically fired in what turned out to be the winner, sparking wild scenes at San Siro – in fact, the substitute midfielder nearly passed out as a result of his celebration. Set to meet a young Paris Saint-Germain side in this season’s Champions League final, Simone Inzaghi’s squad of experienced campaigners must first switch focus back to events on the domestic front.
Before attempting to lift the European Cup for a fourth time in Munich, Inter will face Torino, Lazio and Como in the top flight, where they trail leaders Napoli by three points following a series of setbacks. Though they edged out Hellas Verona on home turf last week, Inzaghi will be troubled by his side’s decline in 2025: after posting eight straight away wins, the Nerazzurri have since won just one of their last seven league games on the road.
Furthermore, among teams in the top half of the table, Inter are one of only two not to record successive clean sheets this calendar year – a sign that legs are already tiring, with a continental final and the new Club World Cup still to come. But, having won all of their last five league meetings with Torino – recording four clean sheets in the process – they will try to extend both trends in Turin before Napoli play three hours later.
Torino, on the other hand, have little to play for, other than a potential top-half finish, having been safe for several weeks and never really threatened to fight for European qualification. Last time out, a late Nikola Vlasic penalty salvaged a 1-1 home draw against relegation-threatened Venezia, leaving Toro 11th in the standings, with Como and Udinese their main rivals for a place in the final top 10.
That goal also maintained their impressive record as one of four teams in Serie A – alongside Bologna, Roma and Napoli – not to have lost at home in 2025. In fact, Paolo Vanoli’s men are unbeaten in nine top-flight matches as hosts, and Torino could now reach 10 for the first time since 1995 by halting Inter’s quest for back-to-back Scudetti.
As Sports Mole reports, Torino have lost 14 of their last 20 home games against Inter, so history will weigh heavily against them this weekend. The Granata also have a tough task ahead of them, as they host a team that has won all of their last five league meetings with Torino.
In terms of team news, Simone Inzaghi could make more changes in Turin, with one eye on the upcoming Champions League decider. Passed fit at the final minute, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez played through pain before being replaced in midweek, so Mehdi Taremi, Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic will all come into Inzaghi’s thinking.
Marcus Thuram may wish to continue up front, having scored four times against Torino to date – including his only career hat-trick, last October at San Siro – but he might also make way. Benjamin Pavard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and semi-final hero Davide Frattesi have been ruled out.
Meanwhile, Torino can recall Karol Linetty, who has now resumed full training, but Yann Karamoh and key midfielder Samuele Ricci are injury doubts. In the long-term absence of captain Duvan Zapata, nine-goal top scorer Che Adams generally spearheads Toro’s attack, though Antonio Sanabria started last week – either striker should be supported by Nikola Vlasic.
The possible starting lineups for both teams are:
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Dembele, Maripan, Coco, Biraghi; Ricci, Casadei; Lazaro, Vlasic, Elmas; Adams
Inter Milan: J. Martinez; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Zalewski, Asllani, Zielinski, Augusto; Correa, Taremi
In conclusion, Sports Mole predicts that Inter Milan will edge out Torino 0-1, with Simone Inzaghi’s side relying on his squad players after an epic midweek victory by the first team. The mismatch in motivation between the two teams could prove decisive, as Torino are coasting towards the end of a relatively successful season, while their visitors from Milan are vying for an historic double.
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