5 Classic Games In Inter History

Inter Milan has had countless matches throughout its history that have had a lot of importance. Between league matches, international competition, and more, some Inter victories have meant more than others. Let’s take a look at five classic matches that every Inter fan should know about.

Ending the Drought

Heading into the 2020-21 Serie A season, Juventus had been unstoppable for nearly a decade. The club had won the league title in nine consecutive years after Inter had enjoyed a long streak of its own during the 2000s. Many were wondering when A. Juventus would be knocked off, and B. When Inter would get back into the title picture.

Things got off to a shaky start to the season as Inter won just two of its first four games, but things would turn around quickly. After the fourth matchday, Inter would lose just two more times the rest of the season. On the 34th matchday, Inter lined up against Crotone with a chance to win Serie A and end the Juventus reign at the top. It took until the 69th minute, but Christian Eriksen finally got Inter on the board while Achraf Hakimi added a second goal to give Inter the 2-0 victory and the Serie A title.

First Champions League Title

Inter had won the European Cup in back-to-back years during the 1960s but had no other title victories throughout the league’s history, even as it changed to the UEFA Champions League in the early 1990s. Heading into the 2009-10 season, Inter still hadn’t won the Champions League, but fortunes would change quickly. Placed into a group with Barcelona, Rubin Kazan, and Dynamo Kyiv, Inter claimed second place to advance.

Inter got past Chelsea in the round of 16, then CSKA Moscow and Barcelona in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. In the final, Inter took on Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain. Inter struck first when Diego Milito scored in the 35th minute. Milito then added a second goal in the 70th to give Inter the 2-0 victory and its first Champions League title.

Thrashing of Milan

In the Derby della Madonnina, there aren’t many blowouts (at least not since the earliest parts of the 20th century). That’s why when one team wins by more than two goals, it becomes global news. During the 2009-10 Serie A season, Inter faced off against Milan twice in the rivalry. Inter won the second match by a 2-0 mark, but the first match was even more memorable as Inter blanked Milan 4-0 in front of their own supporters.

Thiago Motta got the scoring started in the 30th minute when he scored on a fine pass from Diego Milito. Milito then added a goal of his own six minutes later on a penalty to make it 2-0. Milito got back on the assist side for the third goal of the first half with Maicon netting one in the 45th minute. In the second half, Inter scored once more with Dejan Stankovic putting in a goal in the 67th minute while Milan got shut out.

Tiebreaker For the Title

Things were much, much different in the days before Inter joined Serie A as part of the top league in Italy. During the early 20th century, Inter was part of Prima Categoria and won its first major league title in the 1909-10 season. That year, there were 16 matches on the schedule, with Inter winning 12 of them while drawing one and losing three. Pro Vercelli had the same record, forcing a tie-breaker match.

The match proved to be a very interesting one that would never happen today. Pro Vercelli had already scheduled an exhibition match for that day in 1910 (April 24) and Inter didn’t want to postpone. Pro Vercelli had to send their fourth squad to the match, which was comprised of 15-year-old boys. Inter would end up winning the title thanks to a wild 10-3 victory over the young lads.

Coppa Italia Resurgence

The Coppa Italia tournament started in 1922, but Inter had won the tourney just once heading into the late 1970s (1938-39). Inter would get back into the contender picture starting with the 1977-78 edition of the tournament and stay there for decades. Inter was placed into a group with Ascoli, Atalanta, Cremonese, and Como. Inter won three of its four matches, drawing in the other.

Inter then won the second-round group, defeating Fiorentina, Torino, and Monza. In the final, Inter took on Napoli, and it didn’t look good at the start as Maurizio Restelli netted a sixth-minute goal in Rome. Alessandro Altobelli equalized things in the 18th minute. Scoring halted until the 89th minute. That’s when Graziano Bini scored the historic goal to give Inter its second Coppa Italia title.