📢 Can Inter justify their status as favorites, or will Torino once again prove to be a tricky opponent? The match will take place at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, where the Nerazzurri, backed by a packed stadium, will aim to jumpstart their campaign for the title from the very beginning. Torino, a typical mid-table Serie A side, has always been known for their organized defense and ability to challenge even the giants. This is why the upcoming game promises to be intriguing.

Head-to-Head

📊 Inter and Torino have faced each other 36 times in official matches over recent years, with the stats clearly favoring the Milan side: 23 wins, 9 draws, and only 4 victories for the "Bulls." Last season, Inter proved superior in both encounters—securing a 3-2 win at home and a confident 2-0 victory away, even with their second-string squad, underscoring the class difference between the teams.

Inter Milano Team Overview

🔵 Last season was a rollercoaster for the Nerazzurri. They had a decent shot at a treble but ended up without a single trophy. In Serie A, Simone Inzaghi's side (back when he was still at the helm) battled Napoli to the wire, finishing just one point behind. The Club World Cup added to their woes as Inter crashed out in the Round of 16 against Brazilian side Fluminense (0-2), a result that was seen as a significant failure for a club of their stature.

📌 Pre-season, however, brought a wave of optimism among fans. Inter played three friendly matches and secured three victories, including a win over Monaco (2-1). The team's performance looked well-balanced, giving supporters hope for a strong start in the new campaign.

🔁 Transfer activity also caught attention. Over the summer, Cristian Chivu took the reins, having previously managed Parma in their fight for survival. This marks a significant step up for him, and his vision is expected to shape Inter's new identity. The club was quite lavish in the transfer market, spending just under €100 million. The marquee signing: 23-year-old Brazilian right midfielder Luis Henrique, who joined from Marseille for €23 million. This acquisition aims to inject pace and creativity on the flank.

Torino Team Overview

🔴 Last season for the "Bulls" was predictable: the team failed to surprise and finished the league in 11th place with 44 points. This was exactly the outcome expected of them—a solid mid-table side capable of occasionally taking points off the favorites but not contending for more. Nonetheless, over the summer, the management decided to shake things up in the coaching staff. The new head coach is Marco Baroni, who worked with Lazio last season.

📌 The preseason was disappointing. Out of five friendly matches, Torino managed to win only one, and that was against a modest Cremonese (4-1). In the other games, the team either looked lackluster or was completely outplayed. Such a backdrop heading into the season opener hardly fills fans with optimism.

🔁 The transfer window was equally underwhelming. The club invested just under 20 million euros, but there were no marquee signings. The main acquisition was Uruguayan goalkeeper Franco Israel from Lisbon's Sporting for 4 million euros. He is expected to replace Vanja Milinković-Savić as the last line of defense, a role in which Milinković-Savić had been a leader and true savior for years. Whether the newcomer can handle such responsibility is the key question as the season kicks off.

Latest news

Inter Milano

📣 Inter's head coach, Cristian Chivu, admitted in a pre-season interview that he feels a significant emotional burden from his new role: "I feel the weight of responsibility." He also mentioned that working at the club where he spent the best years of his career gives him more than just professional experience.

🚫 Inter will be without two players for their upcoming match due to suspensions from yellow card accumulations last season: Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito. Additionally, the situation with Davide Frattesi remains uncertain as he has been diagnosed with a hernia—his participation will depend on the final medical assessment.

Torino

📣 Torino's head coach Marco Baroni emphasized his focus on daily work: "I prefer hard work over declarations about our ambitions. I understood from the start that this summer, the squad would be overhauled." He also noted that the key task now is to adapt the revamped, young team to the demands of Serie A.

🚫 Torino are facing injury-related personnel issues. Aliou Ndiaye is recovering from a leg fracture, and his participation remains uncertain. Ardian Ismajli is sidelined with a thigh injury until mid-September, while Perr Schuurs is continuing his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament tear and will return only by the end of September. These absences significantly weaken the team's defense.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Inter not only consistently triumphs in head-to-head encounters, but they often do so with a clean sheet. The Nerazzurri have kept their opponents scoreless in 5 of their last 6 Serie A matches against Torino, showcasing a high level of focus and solid defensive organization. Even when Inter fielded a less-than-full-strength squad, like last May, they managed to secure a 2-0 victory, once again denying their opponents any goals. Therefore, betting on Torino not to score seems reasonable.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Despite their status as a top club and regular dominance on the pitch, Inter consistently records low corner counts in head-to-head meetings with Torino. In 6 of the last 7 Serie A clashes between these teams, the Nerazzurri have taken no more than six corners. Additionally, Inter have gone 18 official games in a row without surpassing the 7-corner mark. Thus, betting on Inter's total corners under 6.5 appears to be an intriguing option.