Inter Milan has been dominating this season. Last season’s Champions League finalists are on track to secure their 20th league title, sitting a whopping 14 points clear of city rivals AC Milan in 2nd place.

Under manager Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have mastered the transition up the pitch. Inzaghi sets his team up in a 5-back formation, with Dumfries and Dimarco providing width. When out of possession, Inter sets up in a classic 5-back formation, with three center-backs narrow and the wingbacks covering the wide areas. However, in possession is where the fluidity of this team truly shines. Dumfries and Dimarco have the license to roam wherever they please, often directly involved in the attacks. Additionally, center-backs Alessandro Bastoni and, in this example, Benjamin Pavard, also have the freedom to push forward and become overlapping center-backs. This was exemplified by Bastoni’s assist with a cross against Napoli this weekend, as the center-back surged forward before delivering a precise cross into the 18-yard box, which was met by wingback Matteo Darmian.

This fluidity and the ability for all players to be involved in the attack also stem from the midfield. Hakan Çalhanoğlu has been a standout alongside the excellent Nicoló Barella. These two have been partnered with a third midfielder, with the likes of Frattesi and Mkhitaryan being the main choices for this third role. This midfield trio has the ability to distribute, retain, and recycle the ball amongst themselves – giving them total control in midfield and in most areas of the pitch. According to Opta Analysts, they control more zones than their opposition while the ball is in play. You can see this data by using the link below and scrolling down to ‘zones of control’.

Furthermore, this midfield trio has the ability to interchange with the center-backs, such as Bastoni, which leads to fluidity and allows the defense to make line-breaking runs and ball carries. This creates a nightmare for opposition teams and has provided a key component for Inter’s success in the league this year.

Another part of Inter Milan’s success is their lethal strike partnership. Captain Lautaro Martinez and summer signing Marcus Thuram have formed a dream partnership and have contributed massively to Nerazzurri’s impressive 71 goals scored in Serie A. Marcus Thuram, the son of Lilian Thuram who played 300+ games in Serie A for Parma and Juventus, moved from German outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach to Milan on a free transfer in the summer. Since then, he has starred alongside Martinez, hitting double figures in both goals and assists in the league (10 goals, 10 assists). Martinez has continued his fine form and has been mentioned as an outside shout for the Ballon d’Or. In the league, Martinez has scored 23 goals and provided 4 assists, and has been a key component of Inter’s attacking threat. Fast, with an excellent center of gravity and ability to hold the ball, quick feet, and world-class finishing, the Argentinean has dominated the golden boot chase. Standing 8 goals ahead of second place Dusan Vlahovic. This partnership, alongside attacking outlets such as Dimarco, has meant that Inter has scored a huge 71 goals in 29 games.

Defensively, Inter have also been superb, conceding only 14 goals this season. Sommer has faced only the second fewest amount of shots in the league this season (217), and Inter hold the second least amount of expected goals against, at just 15.35. This suggests that Inter have been superb defensively, limiting opposition to such a low xG while facing some of the best strikers in the world, such as Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic, and Romelu Lukaku.

It’s no wonder then that Internazionale have cruised to this Serie A title. They are, in my opinion, one of the best sides in the world; the quality all over the pitch has shone this season. And the way they’ve been set up tactically by Inzaghi is outstanding. A shock exit to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League means that Inter can now solely focus on the league title and will look to build on that next season. This team is one of the best teams in the world. Fact. They just haven’t received the credit for it yet.