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Inter Milan ended 2021 as the table toppers in Serie A, making a statement in their title defence. Since ending Juventus' nine-year stranglehold of the Scudetto in 2020-21, they have enjoyed a great run of form in the ongoing campaign as well.
They finished as the Campione d'Inverno or Winter Champions this campaign. If history is any indication, they have a good chance of maintaining their top spot and clinching the league title this time around as well. Since the 1994-95 campaign, the team at the top of the standings at the winter break has won the title 18 times out of a possible 27.
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Serie A has emerged as the most competitive league in Europe this season, with eight points separating Inter from fourth-placed Atalanta. Nonetheless, Inter have proven themselves to be the team to beat this campaign.
The Nerazzurri lost their star manager Antonio Conte at the start of the campaign and also parted ways with top scorer Romelu Lukaku. However, they have displayed good resolve to keep their title defence going strong.
A hard-fought win over Juventus in the Supercoppa Italia would've given them a huge confidence boost. On that note, here's a look at five reasons why Inter Milan should retain their league title this season.
#5 Inter Milan have one of the best passing games in the league
Inter Milan are one of the highest-scoring teams across Europe's top five leagues. Much of that prolificacy is down to their seamless passing game. As per Whoscored, they rank second in the league in terms of passing success, with 87% of their passes reaching their desired target.
They attempt more crosses per game than any other team (90) and also top the league in successful through balls per 90 (2). They also boast two of the league's pass-masters in Marcelo Brozovic and Milan Skriniar, both clocking an impressive 92.9% pass success this season.
The addition of Hakan Calhanoglu has brought in dynamism in the final third. The Turkish international has showcased his prowess in link-up play, earning seven assists so far.
There is a lot of movement on the pitch, as Inter like to build up play from the back. That opens up a plethora of options for passes to be played upfield, meaning Inter's style of play is not predictable and easily exploitable by opponents.
#4 Inter's offensive responsibilities have been shared all across the pitch
Football is a team sport, but time and again it is observed that a single player carries the bulk of responsibility for his side. Luckily, this season, the Nerazzurri have enjoyed a collective effort, especially in offence, and have lost just once.
Alessandro Bastoni has been outstanding alongside Milan Skriniar in defence. He delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance the win against Lazio, who had inflicted Inter their only defeat of the ongoing Serie A campaign in the reverse fixture.
In the final third, Lautaro Martinez has reached double digits in goals for the third season running. Unsurprisingly, Inter have tied him down to a new deal till 2026.
Meanwhile, new signing Edin Dzeko has contributed eight league goals for his new club. Overall, 16 different players have found the back of the net in the league for Inter this term.
Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella have seven assists each, while 14 different players have provided goal-scoring passes for Inter in the league this season.
#3 Inter Milan have sizzled at both ends
There are two ways to win games - outscore your opponents or prevent them from scoring. Inter Milan have done both this season. They are the top-scoring side with 51 goals from 20 league outings. They also have the second-best defensive record, having conceded 16 goals, one more than third-placed Napoli.
Lautaro Martinez is the fourth-highest goalscorer in Serie A this season with 11 goals. Meanwhile, Calhanoglu and Barella are second in the assist charts with seven assists apiece. The duo of Dzeko and Martinez has combined for 24 goals in the league.
Similarly, Samir Handanovic is second in the league in clean sheets, managing nine shutouts so far. Inter have also averaged 15.3 tackles per 90, the fifth-most in the league, and have conceded 11 shots per game, also fifth-best in the league.
#2 New signings have taken no time in integrating with the team
One of the biggest tasks at hand Inter Milan faced ahead of the 2021-22 campaign was to fill the void left by Romelu Lukaku's departure in the summer. They signed Edin Dzeko, a striker with a proven track record in the Italian top flight. He hasn't disappointed, scoring eight league goals this term.
Achraf Hakimi's departure also weakened their squad, but Denzel Dumfries has been good value for money. He has also provided decent output in attack with three goals and two assists.
However, no new Inter signing has made a bigger impact this season than Hakan Calhanoglu, who arrived from rivals AC Milan on a free transfer. With six goals and seven assists, he has blossomed into a role Christian Eriksen could not fit in at the club.
After taking into consideration that Dzeko and Calhanoglu were signed for free, Inter could not have asked for anything more. New signings usually take some time to settle in and blossom, but the duo has hit the ground running for the reigning champions.
Dzeko and Calhanoglu have been key players for Inter this season. Inter's pole position in the standings would have been difficult had the new signings taken time to integrate at the club.
#1 Simone Inzaghi's tactics have instilled discipline into his squad
Simone Inzaghi's first season at Inter Milan is going very well. He has improved the 3-5-2 system he inherited from Antonio Conte. One significant change has been that Inter have one of the best disciplinary records in the league, with no player receiving a red card yet.
They have committed just 12.3 fouls per game, and the strikers have been offside only 1.4 times per 90. That discipline has helped players avoid suspensions and be available for key matches throughout the season.
