Inter seal Serie A title with 2-0 win over Parma

ROME: Inter Milan clinched the Serie A title on Sunday after beating Parma 2-0, securing their third Italian league crown in six seasons.

Marcus Thuram put Inter ahead just before the break with a side-footed finish, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan added the second after half-time to confirm the result that sparked celebrations at San Siro and across Milan.

With three matches remaining, Inter hold a 12-point advantage over defending champions Napoli and are 15 points ahead of third-placed AC Milan. Thousands of supporters celebrated in the stands at San Siro, while more fans gathered in front of Milan's Duomo cathedral as the club claimed its 21st Italian title.

The title marks a strong response to the way last season ended for Inter. The team had missed out on the 2025 league title by a single point and were then beaten 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez said the team had overcome a difficult period to return to the top.

Today, we are all happy, but we must not forget all the work accomplished, because it was very difficult to start again after the end of last season when we lost in all the competitions we could win.

Martinez said.

Chivu's impact

Inter's success has come under coach Cristian Chivu, who took charge last summer after Simone Inzaghi left for a deal in Saudi Arabia. Chivu, a former Inter player, had been a surprise choice in June and arrived with limited experience at this level.

Inter have refreshed the side with only a small number of additions, while Chivu has helped revive the team after last season's disappointment.

Inter can still complete a league and cup double if they defeat Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13 at Rome's Olympic Stadium. If they do so, it would be the third league and cup double in the club's history.

Juventus and Milan stumble

Elsewhere, Juventus missed the chance to move into third place after being held 1-1 at home by already relegated Verona. The Turin side did, however, move three points clear of Como in the race for the fourth Champions League qualification spot.

Juventus stayed two points behind AC Milan despite dominating possession and registering 23 shots, six of them on target. Verona took the lead when Domagoj Bradaric capitalised on a poor pass and sent in a low cross that Kieron Bowie turned in. It was one of only two shots on target for the visitors.

Bowie later hit a long-range effort straight at Michele de Grigorio in the closing minutes, while Juventus eventually equalised in the 61st minute through a Dusan Vlahovic free kick from 25 metres.

Earlier, AC Milan's faint hopes of catching Inter ended with a 2-0 defeat at Sassuolo. Milan suffered a fourth loss in seven matches in Reggio Emilia.

Sassuolo went ahead after five minutes through Domenico Berardi. Milan then played most of the match with 10 men after Fikayo Tomori was sent off in the 24th minute. Armand Lauriente scored Sassuolo's second in the 47th minute, and changes made by coach Massimiliano Allegri did not alter the outcome.

Allegri acknowledged the disappointment among supporters but said the team remained focused on securing a top-four finish.

I understand our fans' frustration; we all want to secure Champions League qualification as soon as possible.

Allegri told DAZN, adding:

In these difficult times, we must keep our heads held high. We have three matches left to play, and with two wins, we'll be in the Champions League.