The San Siro echoed with disappointment following Inter`s 2-2 draw against Lazio. Fans` frustration deepened upon learning that rivals Napoli had also stumbled against Parma. For brief periods during the match, Inter had reclaimed the Serie A lead, tantalizing close to securing back-to-back league titles.
While it`s easy to fixate on their inability to hold leads at home with the championship in sight, a broader perspective reveals that points dropped earlier in the season were equally damaging and perhaps more preventable. The team`s struggle to maintain focus now, after months of grueling fixtures and with a Champions League final looming, is more understandable than their earlier missteps when energy levels were higher and experience should have prevailed.
From Season Start to Finish: Key Moments That Derailed Inter`s Title Hopes
The opening month of the season now appears critically important, with Inter winning just two of their first five Serie A matches. Particularly costly were the last-minute equalizer conceded to Genoa, a draw against bottom-placed Monza, and a loss to local rivals Milan, who later faced managerial changes.
These early setbacks should have served as wake-up calls, but Inter continued to falter in crucial matches. Notable examples include surrendering a two-goal lead to Juventus in the final 20 minutes of an October clash, failing to defeat Napoli at home, and a lifeless loss to Juventus in Turin in February.
Additional regrets stem from a frustrating derby against Milan where they hit the woodwork three times, and a stoppage-time winner conceded to Bologna. While recent dropped points against teams like Parma and Roma were significant, they highlight how Inter backed themselves into a corner, needing wins when fatigue had set in after a long campaign.
These missed opportunities are scattered throughout their season – a painful reminder of their 2022 experience when Milan clinched the title by a single point. Now, history seems poised to repeat itself, adding pressure to their upcoming Champions League final – potentially their last chance to salvage a season that may be remembered with lasting regret.