Internazionale also won their first match after clinching the Scudetto. Thanks to two goals from Hakan Çalhanoglu, Torino was defeated on Sunday afternoon in Milan.
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Perr Schuurs was noticeably absent for Torino due to a knee injury, leaving a gap in the visitor's defense that was felt throughout the match.
Despite his absence, Torino's defense managed to hold up impressively well for a significant portion of the game at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. This was partly because Inter, fresh from their Scudetto celebrations, did not push the pace to their usual levels. The festive atmosphere of the week seemed to permeate their play, with a somewhat subdued approach initially.
Hakan Çalhanoglu, however, emerged from the celebratory backdrop with renewed vigor. Fresh off securing the Italian title with a victory over his old club AC Milan, Çalhanoglu took to social media to address his critics. He posted an image on Instagram depicting him embracing the trophy, wearing headphones, with his critics faded into the background. The caption, 'Always calm, always patient, always focused, and now rewarded,' reflected his mindset following the championship win, indicating a personal triumph over his detractors.
In the game against Torino, Çalhanoglu became the protagonist in the second half. He opened the scoring in the 56th minute with a precise left-footed strike following an assist from Henrikh Mkhitaryan. This goal came shortly after Torino was reduced to ten men, following a direct red card issued to Adrien Tameze just after halftime, which shifted the game's momentum in Inter's favor. Çalhanoglu then doubled the lead four minutes later from the penalty spot after Marcus Thuram was fouled inside the box. In a display of team spirit, Çalhanoglu initially offered the penalty to Lautaro Martínez, but the Argentine forward deferred back to Çalhanoglu, who confidently converted the chance.
As the match progressed with Inter leading 2-0, coach Simone Inzaghi began to rotate his squad, making numerous substitutions. This not only provided rest to key players but also allowed others to partake in the post-title win celebrations on the pitch. Despite the extensive changes, veteran defender Stefan de Vrij was tasked with anchoring the defense for the entire ninety minutes, showcasing his importance to the team's structural integrity. Meanwhile, Davy Klaassen sat out the match on the bench, and Denzel Dumfries missed the game due to suspension, highlighting the depth and flexibility within the squad.
This victory not only reaffirmed Inter's dominance in the league but also allowed them to continue their championship celebrations with another convincing display, blending professional commitment with festive joy.
