Inter Milan Kick Off Serie A Against Torino With Key Absences
The new Serie A season is officially underway, and all eyes are on the San Siro where Inter Milan open their campaign against Torino. It’s not just another season opener—this match feels like the beginning of an important journey for both clubs.
For Inter, this is the first league match under Cristian Chivu’s leadership. His debut technically came earlier at the FIFA Club World Cup, but the domestic campaign is where his tenure will truly be judged. Inter are eager to avoid another season without silverware, so there’s a sense of urgency already in the air.
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However, Chivu’s options are limited. Hakan Calhanoglu and young Francesco Pio Esposito are suspended, while Davide Frattesi and Carlos Augusto are not fully fit. Federico Dimarco was also a doubt after picking up a knock during a friendly win over Olympiacos. That meant Nicolò Barella was handed a new role, positioned deeper in midfield as a playmaker to guide the tempo behind Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. The only summer signing in the starting eleven is Petar Sucic, while Benjamin Pavard, who had been linked with a move away, was chosen to start in defense.
On the Torino side, Marco Baroni is beginning his first Serie A campaign in charge after guiding his team to a 1–0 Coppa Italia victory over Modena last week. Torino, too, are missing important players. New arrival Ardian Ismajli is sidelined through injury, while long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and Zanos Savva are still unavailable. Despite those setbacks, Baroni fielded some intriguing new faces, including goalkeeper Franco Israel and former Napoli pair Giovanni Simeone and Cyril Ngonge. Alongside them, Cesare Casadei, who only just completed his move from Inter to Torino, was immediately thrown into action against his former club.
Inter’s starting line-up featured Sommer in goal, Pavard, Acerbi, and Bastoni at the back, with Dumfries and Dimarco on the flanks. Sucic, Barella, and Mkhitaryan filled the midfield, while Lautaro and Thuram led the attack. Torino’s XI included Israel between the posts, Lazaro, Coco, Masina, and Biraghi in defense, with Gineitis, Ilkhan, and Casadei across the midfield. Ngonge, Simeone, and Vlasic completed the attacking trident.
One major subplot surrounding this match has been the fitness of Davide Frattesi. The Italian midfielder underwent surgery in the summer for an abdominal issue that had troubled him since last season’s Champions League semifinal against Barcelona. He returned to full training recently, but his readiness for competitive play remains in question. Chivu was expected to make a late call on whether Frattesi would feature, and many fans were eager to see if he could play at least some part.
All in all, Inter step into this match under pressure to prove they can set the tone early in the season, while Torino hope their summer reinforcements can make an instant impact. With both sides dealing with absences, the contest at San Siro is less about perfect squads and more about resilience, tactical choices, and seizing the first opportunity to make a statement in Serie A.
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