While most people would point to the Internazionale-Milan derby as the biggest in Italy, the Derby d’Italia – Juventus against Inter – is larger. It’s the Derby of Italy, after all. However, title battles among the two are often quite rare – this year, though, that might be about to change.
With Juventus already clear at the top, though, it’s hard to see a true challenger. Inter, though, might take the mantel of AS Roma and be the ‘best of the rest’ – as Roma done for the Nerrazzurri during their title winning run of the 2000s.
If anyone has the quality to challenge and run alongside Juventus, though, it is Inter. With a forward in Mauro Icardi and enough young firepower around him – the prodigious Lautaro Martinez, who will soon explode at Inter included – there is no doubt that Inter have firepower.
They also have plenty of quality in midfield and in defence, and with Samir Handanovic in goals, it’s mentality that will hold Inter back. A slow start to the season will make catching up with Juventus soon, but impressive results – including a 3-0 win against Lazio and a last-minute winner in the Derby del Madonnina against Milan – should give them some much-needed self-belief.
The biggest test to any potential title credentials will come in late November. They go away to Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Juventus in a week. If they come out the other side of that with some strong results, the Scudetto is on.
