Inter enter their Serie A trip to 11th-placed Sassuolo targeting another victory as Cristian Chivu’s team chase success on every front. After defeating Torino 2-1 in midweek to reach the Coppa Italia semi-finals, the Serie A leaders now try to keep control of the title race.
The calendar is intense for Inter, with Juventus next in the league before a Champions League play-off first leg against Bodo/Glimt. Inter ended the 2025-26 campaign with no trophies, yet Carlos Augusto believes this season can end differently for Chivu’s squad. "We know what happened last season, but we are Inter, we play every tournament aiming to win and will do everything possible to win," Augusto told Sport Mediaset.
The Coppa Italia win over Torino underlined Inter’s
depth, as Chivu adjusted the line-up but still advanced. The 2-1 success at U-Power Stadium secured a 19th Coppa Italia semi-final appearance in the last 30 seasons, a figure bettered only by Juventus, who have reached the final four 35 times.
Inter’s display also highlighted contributions from squad players. Ange-Yoan Bonny struck the opener on 35 minutes against Torino and again impressed with work rate. The forward left the pitch with a cut on the knee, yet the problem appears minor, and Bonny is expected to be available for the match at MAPEI Stadium.
Bonny’s goal continued a strong run of form across competitions. The forward now has two goals in the last four appearances, matching the tally from the previous 15 matches in Serie A, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia combined. Across this season, Bonny has 12 goal contributions in all competitions, behind only Federico Dimarco on 14, Marcus Thuram on 16 and Lautaro Martinez on 23 for Inter.
Reflecting on beating Torino, Bonny stressed both the difficulty and importance of the tie. "Torino are always a complicated opponent, but we are happy that we go through to the next phase," Bonny said of Inter's midweek win. "In a game like this, you have to do battle, and we’re glad we did," Bonny added. "There are many strikers who are doing well, we are all at the disposal of the team and want to continue like this. "
Sassuolo will look towards Nemanja Matic for control in midfield against Inter. Matic is one of only two players, alongside AC Milan’s Luka Modric, to play 20 or more matches in this season’s top five European leagues after turning 37. Matic has also recovered possession 140 times, the most in Serie A this season.
Inter’s attacking patterns often run through Dimarco, whose delivery from wide areas has been vital. Dimarco has produced eight assists in Serie A this season. No defender has managed more within the first 24 matchdays of a Serie A campaign since 2004-05, with Pablo Armero in 2011-12 and Nuno Tavares in 2024-25 also reaching eight in the same span.
| Inter player | Goal involvements (all competitions, 2025-26) |
|---|---|
| Lautaro Martinez | 23 |
| Marcus Thuram | 16 |
| Federico Dimarco | 14 |
| Ange-Yoan Bonny | 12 |
Inter vs Sassuolo statistics, history and Opta prediction
Inter have collected 18 wins and 55 points in Serie A this season, a record matched only by Barcelona in the top five European leagues. In front of goal, only Bayern Munich with 74 and Barcelona with 60 have scored more league goals than Inter’s 52, reflecting Chivu’s attacking approach.
The Nerazzurri also travel well. Inter have won each of their last seven away Serie A fixtures. They have only bettered that run twice in top-flight history, with 11 straight away wins between October 2006 and March 2007 under Roberto Mancini, and eight consecutive away victories between September 2024 and January 2025 under Simone Inzaghi.
Recent history gives Sassuolo some encouragement against Inter. Overall, Inter have taken six wins from the last nine league meetings with Sassuolo, losing three. Across Serie A, Sassuolo have beaten Inter 10 times, drawing twice and losing 11, and have not beaten any other opponent more often, with 10 wins also recorded against Hellas Verona.
Sassuolo arrive in form after two straight league victories, which followed three consecutive defeats. The last time they enjoyed a longer winning sequence in Serie A was March 2023, when they put together four successive triumphs. Against Inter in the second half of league seasons, Sassuolo have lost only two of the last 10 clashes, winning six and drawing two, and stayed unbeaten in eight of those games.
| Outcome | Opta win probability |
|---|---|
| Sassuolo win | 16.9% |
| Draw | 21.4% |
| Inter win | 61.7% |
Opta’s model makes Inter clear favourites at MAPEI Stadium, but Sassuolo’s record in this fixture and present form suggest a competitive meeting. With Matic anchoring the hosts, and Dimarco, Martinez, Thuram and Bonny in rhythm for Inter, the contest shapes as a serious test during a demanding spell for Chivu’s side.
