Inter Milan secured their 21st Serie A title with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Parma at San Siro on Sunday, marking their first championship celebration at home in nearly four decades.
Thuram and Mkhitaryan Seal the Deal
Marcus Thuram opened the scoring just before halftime, curling an angled shot past Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 37, added the second in the 80th minute, capitalizing on a setup from substitute Lautaro Martinez, who returned from an injury layoff.
Inter needed only a draw to clinch the title and moved an unassailable 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli with three rounds remaining. It marks their third league crown in six years and 21st overall—trailing only Juventus' record 36 titles.
"Since I arrived at Inter, it's been a team that loves to stay together—on and off the field—and that's our strength," Thuram said.
First-Year Coach Chivu Delivers
For first-year coach Cristiano Chivu, the trophy was secured against the club he guided last season, helping Parma avoid relegation. The Romanian was hired nearly a year ago to replace Simone Inzaghi and played on Inter's historic treble-winning team under José Mourinho in 2010.
Lautaro praised the new manager's impact: "(Chivu) did so well bringing fresh energy, enthusiasm. After four great years with Simone, perhaps we needed a change of scenery. Chivu made sure everyone felt involved and could even train with a smile."
Inter will face Lazio in the Italian Cup final in 10 days, seeking a second trophy this season.
Champions League Race Heats Up
While Inter celebrated, rivals AC Milan and Juventus face jeopardy for Champions League qualification. Milan suffered a 2-0 defeat at Sassuolo, losing defender Fikayo Tomori to a red card and managing just one goal in their last five matches. With one win in seven games, third-placed Milan holds only a two-point cushion over fourth-placed Juventus.
Juventus drew 1-1 at home against relegated Hellas Verona, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches. Dusan Vlahovic equalized with a free kick—his first goal since October.
Three rounds remain in Serie A, with fifth-placed Como looming just three points behind Juventus.