Inter Milan have finally ascended to the summit of Serie A. On a Sunday defined by upheaval for their title challengers, the Nerazzurri ruthlessly capitalized, grinding out a gritty 2-1 victory over Genoa at the Marassi to claim the capolista status.

The path to first place was cleared by a rare alignment of results earlier in the day. AC Milan faltered at the San Siro, held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Sassuolo, while Napoli’s title charge hit a wall in Friuli, suffering a shock 0-1 defeat to Udinese.

Cristian Chivu’s men knew the assignment: win, and the top spot was theirs.

They wasted no time asserting that ambition. Just six minutes in, Yann Bisseck broke the deadlock. The defender unleashed a speculative strike from the edge of the box, punishing Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali for poor positioning to give the visitors the perfect start.

Two goals, one photo 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vf2CpOUCKh

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) December 14, 2025

Inter controlled the tempo for much of the first half, and their dominance was rewarded in the 38th minute when Lautaro Martínez doubled the lead with characteristic precision. It seemed, briefly, like a procession.

However, matches at the Luigi Ferraris are rarely straightforward. The second half saw the hosts roar back into contention, with Vitinha cutting the deficit in the 68th minute to inject tension into the proceedings. Yet, despite a nervy finale, Inter’s backline held firm, ensuring no further goals were conceded.

For Piotr Zieliński, who stepped into the midfield void left by Hakan Çalhanoğlu—sidelined following an injury against Liverpool in the Champions League—the victory was a test of character.

“It’s always a great thing to see Inter at the top,” Zieliński said post-match. “There are still many games to win, but this was an opportunity we couldn’t miss. We managed to secure three points on a very difficult pitch.“

Our #⃣🔟 pic.twitter.com/aW4xnlbrmg

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) December 14, 2025

Silencing the Critics

Taking the league lead serves as a powerful statement for Chivu and his squad, particularly in the wake of stinging criticism following last week’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool. That loss had fueled narratives that Inter lacked the mettle for big occasions; this result suggests otherwise.

“It means a lot. We took the top spot because we worked, and we knew how to suffer,” Zieliński added. “Regardless of what is said around us, we only think about ourselves, about working and giving joy to our people.“

Manager Cristian Chivu was equally defiant. The Romanian technician, who has faced scrutiny regarding his team’s consistency, viewed the victory as vindication for a squad many had written off.

“A few months ago, they had us finishing eighth or tenth because we looked finished,” Chivu said. “We are the ones who work and try to take Inter to the top where they deserve to be. We’re working hard to show our value.

“For me, we need a bit of consistency in everything, but we’re aware of what we have to do and how we have to do it. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t. Today, we did.“