Inter Milan clinched the Serie A title after defeating rivals AC Milan 2-1 in the 33rd round of the championship. Inter needed just this derby win to mathematically secure the Scudetto after raising their points tally to 86, 17 points clear of nearest competitor Milan with 69 points, with only 15 points remaining before the end of the season. The following are the main reasons that led to Inter's title victory:
**Solid Mentality**
Coach Simone Inzaghi successfully instilled a winning mentality and an unparalleled character in his players, allowing the team to secure the title five rounds before the end of the season. No one was able to surpass Inter's character, with only Sassuolo managing to hand the team a single defeat in 33 matches played. In each game, the team's personality and desire to win shone through, often taking the initiative in scoring and aggressively pursuing a higher goal margin.
**Juventus Factor**
Juventus played a role in Inter's success despite Inter not relying on competitors’ failures, as they managed to beat all the big teams, including Juventus, Roma, Milan, Napoli, and Atalanta. Juventus remained a contender for the title until round 21, taking advantage of Inter's postponed matches due to the Super Italian Cup competition in January and leading the table with 52 points, one point ahead of Inter. However, Juventus quickly fell into decline, starting with a draw against Empoli, and culminating in a defeat against Inter (1-0) in the Derby d'Italia, which solidified the title for Inter. Following this, Juventus faced a series of poor results, allowing Inter to extend their lead to ten points and beyond.
**Direct Encounters**
This season's direct encounters played a decisive role in Inter's championship win, as the team secured victories in most of their matches against other top teams. Inter defeated Fiorentina 5-0 on aggregate, won against Milan twice (7-2), against Roma twice (5-2), and topped off their encounters with Napoli with a win (3-0) and a draw. Inter also drew 1-1 in their first match at Juventus' ground and won 1-0 in the second round.
**Powerful Offense**
The offensive line was crucial for clinching the title, as Inter boasted a standout attacking duo in Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. Throughout the season's 33 matches, Inter scored 79 goals, the strongest offense with a 15-goal margin over Milan. The two forwards contributed heavily, with Lautaro involved in 28 goals (23 goals, 5 assists), while Thuram took part in 23 goals (12 goals, 11 assists).
**Reliable Defense**
Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic played a significant role in the title win, managing to keep a clean sheet in 17 of the 31 matches played, conceding only 18 goals. Backup goalkeeper Emil Audero also kept a clean sheet in two matches. Overall, in 33 matches, Inter kept a clean sheet in 19 of them, with only 18 goals conceded.
