Inter seal 21st Serie A title with three rounds spare, Chivu wins Scudetto in debut year
Synopsis
Inter Milan clinched the Scudetto with three rounds to spare, delivering coach Cristian Chivu an extraordinary debut-season title. The 2-0 win over Parma at San Siro was never in doubt, but the real story is Chivu's rapid ascent — joining Sacchi as only the second manager to win Serie A's crown in his first year. With Inter crowned, the race for the remaining Champions League spots now tightens, with just nine points separating second-placed Napoli from sixth-placed Roma.
Key Takeaways
Inter Milan clinched its 21st Serie A title on May 4 after a 2-0 win over Parma at San Siro .
Coach Cristian Chivu won the Scudetto in his debut season , only the second manager to achieve this feat in the modern era.
Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the goals that sealed the title with three rounds remaining.
Napoli drew 0-0 with Como , allowing Inter's nine-point lead to prove decisive.
The Champions League race remains wide open, with just nine points separating second-placed Napoli from sixth-placed Roma.
Inter Milan clinched its 21st Serie A title on May 4 with three rounds remaining after a 2-0 victory over Parma at San Siro. Romanian coach Cristian Chivu achieved the rare feat of winning the Scudetto in his inaugural season in charge, joining Arrigo Sacchi at AC Milan as only the second manager to accomplish this milestone in the modern era.
How Inter sealed the title
Inter entered the match holding a nine-point lead over second-placed Napoli, which had been held to a 0-0 draw by Como on Saturday. Needing just a single point to mathematically confirm the trophy, the Nerazzurri delivered a commanding performance. Marcus Thuram broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time after a precision pass from Piotr Zielinski, before Henrikh Mkhitaryan added a second in the 80th minute, finishing from close range after a setup by Lautaro Martinez.
Chivu's remarkable debut season
The 42-year-old Chivu's first-year title win represents a stunning achievement in Italian football. His swift success stands in stark contrast to his appointment, which raised eyebrows given his limited managerial experience. Inter's ability to rebuild and compete under his stewardship has silenced early doubters.
What the players said
Coach Chivu told reporters: "I'm happy for these players, for the club and for the fans, because they had to put up with the narrative and the teasing from those who always tried to downplay the work they had done. The team did well to roll up their sleeves, rebuild, and find the right motivation to have a competitive season."
Captain Lautaro Martinez added: "I'm very happy. We always said this was our objective, and now we have to enjoy this moment because it wasn't easy to achieve such an important goal. Last season is the example, when we came close to winning everything but in the end didn't lift a trophy. This season shows that in football and in life you have to get back up, give everything, and never give up."
Champions League race tightens
Elsewhere in Serie A, the battle for the remaining Champions League places intensified. AC Milan suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sassuolo despite playing over an hour with 10 men following a red card. Juventus drew 1-1 at home against already-relegated Hellas Verona, a result that dents their European qualification hopes. Bologna and Cagliari played out a 0-0 stalemate.
The standings picture
With Inter's title sealed, focus now shifts to securing the final three Champions League berths. Just nine points separate Napoli in second from Roma in sixth, though Roma holds a game in hand. The compressed final three rounds promise decisive drama as mid-table sides battle for European football next season.
Point of View
But it masks a deeper narrative: Inter's institutional strength. They have now won two Scudetti in three seasons under different coaches, suggesting the club's infrastructure — not individual managerial genius — is driving consistency. The real intrigue lies not in Inter's coronation but in the scramble below: nine points separating Napoli from Roma with three games left is the tightest top-six race in years. Juventus' draw with a relegated side signals weakness at the traditional powerhouse. If Roma's game in hand yields three points, the final week could yet produce surprises.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Inter Milan clinch the 2024-25 Serie A title?
Inter clinched the Scudetto on May 4 with a 2-0 home win over Parma at San Siro, with three rounds of the season remaining. Goals from Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the victory, and a nine-point lead over second-placed Napoli meant Inter needed only a single point to confirm the title mathematically.
Who is Cristian Chivu and why is his achievement significant?
Cristian Chivu is a Romanian coach who won the Serie A title in his debut season managing Inter Milan. He is only the second manager in the modern era to win the Scudetto in his first year in charge, joining Arrigo Sacchi at AC Milan as the only others to achieve this feat.
What is the current Champions League race situation in Serie A?
With Inter crowned champions, the race for the remaining three Champions League places is wide open. Just nine points separate second-placed Napoli from sixth-placed Roma, though Roma holds a game in hand. The final three rounds promise decisive drama.
How did other top teams perform on matchday?
AC Milan lost 2-0 to Sassuolo while playing with 10 men for over an hour. Juventus drew 1-1 at home against already-relegated Hellas Verona. Bologna and Cagliari drew 0-0.
