The race for the Scudetto has ignited. Inter Milan is breathing down the necks of their city rivals, sensing blood after a stumble by the league leaders. The pressure at the San Siro is reaching a boiling point.

The blue and black half of Milan is dreaming again. Inter Milan has narrowed the gap at the top of Serie A to just eight points, capitalizing on AC Milan’s recent inconsistencies. With the season entering its critical phase, the Nerazzurri are eyeing a chance to turn the title race into a proper dogfight. The psychological warfare has already begun, with Inter looking to pile immense pressure on their Rossoneri neighbors.

The Hunter and the Hunted

AC Milan had been hoping to bolster their squad to fend off the challenge, but transfer market failures—including the collapse of the Mateta deal—have left them vulnerable. Inter, meanwhile, is finding form at the right time. Fresh off a 2-1 victory over Torino and buoyed by Atalanta’s shock elimination of Juventus from the Coppa Italia, the path to domestic glory is opening up on multiple fronts.

"We are not looking at the table; we are looking at the next game," the Inter manager claimed, a classic deflection tactic. But everyone knows the truth: they are hunting. The 8-point gap is significant but not insurmountable, especially with a derby on the horizon.

• The Atalanta Factor: Atalanta’s 3-0 thrashing of Juventus has removed a major obstacle in the Coppa Italia, potentially allowing Inter to chase a double. Success breeds confidence, and Inter is riding a wave.
• Squad Depth: Inter’s ability to grind out results, even when not playing their best, contrasts with Milan’s reliance on key individuals. This resilience could be the deciding factor in the final stretch.

The Final Stretch

Italian football is at its best when the Milan giants are trading blows. The current dynamic—Milan looking over their shoulder, Inter charging forward—sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025/2026 campaign.

The Scudetto is not won in February, but it can be lost. Milan must hold their nerve, because Inter is coming.