The roar of the San Siro faithful on August 25, 2025, wasn`t just a welcome back to Serie A; it was a prelude to an absolute masterclass. Inter Milan, under no illusions about their ambitions for the season, dismantled a hapless Torino with a resounding 5-0 victory. This wasn`t merely a win; it was a statement – a “Manita” that left little doubt about Inter`s lethal attacking prowess and Torino`s immediate defensive quandaries.
From the first whistle, it was clear that Torino`s visit to Milan would be anything but comfortable. Inter, even with key players like Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito sidelined, showed impressive depth and tactical cohesion. New signing Petar Sucic, taking up a crucial midfield role, was particularly instrumental in orchestrating attacks, immediately making his presence felt on debut.
The deadlock broke with a textbook set-piece. In the 18th minute, Nicolò Barella, operating with a newfound creative freedom, delivered a precise corner. Alessandro Bastoni, having cleverly ghosted away from his marker, met it with a perfectly timed glancing header at the near post, setting the tone for the evening.
Inter`s momentum was relentless. Just 18 minutes later, Marcus Thuram doubled the lead. Following some tenacious work by Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the edge of the box, Sucic demonstrated his vision, threading a superb pass to Thuram on the right. The Frenchman, with his father Lilian and brother Khephren watching from the stands, dispatched a precise angled drive, showcasing the cool finishing that hints at a prolific season ahead. Torino`s goalkeeper, Franco Israel, despite making several commendable saves throughout the half – notably parrying an Acerbi header and a Sucic screamer – was already facing an uphill battle against an Inter side in full flow.
The second half brought no respite for the Granata. If anything, their situation worsened. Torino`s attempts to “play out from the back” (a philosophy often admirable but, on this night, bordering on self-sabotage) proved disastrous. In the 52nd minute, a weak pass from Gvidas Gineitis back to his goalkeeper was intercepted with predatory instinct by Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine maestro calmly turned the ball into an empty net, a goal born of pure opportunism and Torino`s defensive generosity.
Moments later, Thuram secured his brace. Alessandro Bastoni, not content with merely scoring the opener, turned provider, whipping in a dangerous cross from the left. Thuram rose majestically, delivering a towering header that left Israel with no chance. It was a goal that encapsulated Inter`s physical and aerial dominance.
The final nail in Torino`s coffin arrived in the 72nd minute, fittingly, from another defensive lapse. Yet again, Torino`s efforts to build from the back were swiftly punished. Debutant Ange-Yoan Bonny, fresh onto the pitch, found himself perfectly positioned to sweep home from 12 yards after Lautaro Martinez had capitalised on the latest error. It was a dream start for Bonny and a stark nightmare for Torino.
This comprehensive 5-0 thrashing by Inter Milan was more than just three points on Matchday 1 of Serie A. It was a powerful declaration of intent from the Nerazzurri, signaling their readiness to contend at the highest level. For Torino, however, it served as an immediate and brutal wake-up call, exposing deep-seated defensive vulnerabilities that will require urgent attention. One can only hope for their sake that such “suicidal defending” (as it was aptly described) does not become a recurring theme as the season unfolds. The challenge now for Inter is to maintain this electrifying momentum, while Torino faces the daunting task of rebuilding confidence and tightening a defense that, on this showing, appears to be made of Swiss cheese.
