Inter Milan began their Serie A campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Torino, marking a successful debut for new manager Cristian Chivu. Goals from Bastoni, a brace from Thuram, Martinez, and Bonny secured a comprehensive win, with Chivu praising his team’s ‘show of maturity’ and commitment. The performance highlighted Inter’s attacking prowess and defensive solidity, setting a positive tone for their title challenge.
Cristian Chivu enjoyed a dream start to his Serie A managerial career, witnessing Inter Milan dismantle Torino with a resounding 5-0 victory on Monday night. The emphatic win marked Inter’s quest for the Scudetto and showcased a level of composure and clinical finishing that delighted the Romanian coach.
Taking the reins after Simone Inzaghi, Chivu’s debut was nothing short of spectacular. A brace from Marcus Thuram spearheaded the attack, supported by goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez, and Ange-Yoan Bonny, who celebrated a dream league debut for the Nerazzurri.
Bastoni opened the scoring in the 18th minute, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Thuram then doubled the advantage eight minutes before halftime, demonstrating the attacking threat Inter posed. Martinez, the Inter captain, effectively sealed the fate of Torino with a goal shortly after the restart, and Thuram added his second of the night just past the hour mark. Bonny, a summer signing from Parma, capped off the rout with a 72nd-minute strike, marking a memorable introduction to Serie A.
This victory represents only the third time in Inter’s history that they have won their opening top-flight match by a margin of five goals or more. The first instance dates back to 1961, a 6-0 triumph over Atalanta. The performance underscored Inter’s attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
The statistics further highlighted Inter’s control. They registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.62 from 20 shots, while Torino managed only 0.98 xG from 12 attempts on Yann Sommer’s goal. This demonstrated Inter’s efficiency in converting opportunities and limiting Torino’s chances.
5 – Cristian #Chivu became the first historical #Inter manager to win with at least 5 goals margin his Nerazzurri debut match in Serie A. Ambitious.#InterTorino pic.twitter.com/wuKDPe71Av
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 25, 2025
Chivu, who became only the second Romanian coach to manage Inter, following Mircea Lucescu’s tenure in 1998-99, was effusive in his praise for his team’s display. “We worked hard and the lads gave a great response,” he told Sky Sports Italia. “They are trying to leave the past behind them and this was a show of maturity.”
He continued, emphasizing the players’ commitment: “From the first day of training, the players have embraced what they need to do, got their heads down, and that is why they were in such good shape today. It was not to be taken for granted after a complicated summer without much time to prepare.”
Chivu also highlighted the importance of mentality. “It’s not just about legs, but mentality too. Mentality gives you that little something extra, and we are working hard on that aspect.” The coach’s words suggest a focus on building a resilient and determined squad capable of challenging for the Serie A title.
When questioned about potential transfer targets, specifically Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman, Chivu remained tight-lipped. “I would prefer to talk about the game, but there are still a few days left in the transfer window, so we’ll have time to discuss it,” he stated, acknowledging the ongoing transfer activity without offering any concrete updates.
Only Petar Sucic of Inter’s new signings featured in the starting lineup against Torino, while Ange-Yoan Bonny made his debut appearance off the bench in the 67th minute, replacing Thuram. Andy Diouf and Luis Henrique also entered the fray in the second half, but Chivu refrained from commenting on the need for further reinforcements, preferring to focus on the performance of the players at his disposal.
The convincing victory provides a significant boost to Inter’s confidence as they embark on their Serie A campaign. Chivu’s emphasis on maturity, mentality, and hard work suggests a promising future for the Nerazzurri under his leadership. The club will be hoping to build on this momentum and mount a serious challenge for the Scudetto.
