2-0 against Monza in the inaugural. Another 2-0 in Cagliari, in the second leg. Then a resounding 4-0 against Fiorentina, which in practice is the manifestation of the ambitions of the blacks for the title. Inter is there, they have three wins in the first matches of the new Serie A season. A perfect start to the championship, as they take the "vacation" (from the national teams) with full points together with Milan.
Total dominance, that of Simone Inzaghi's team over that of Vincenzo Italiano. Great game, aggressiveness, quick counter-attacks. What was seen for large stretches under the former Lazio coach returned to practice on Sunday afternoon. With results for all to see.
But if attention is inevitably focused on the two up front, namely Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, the latter unstoppable, the defensive performance shown so far is also sensational. Because Inter is the only team in Serie A that has not yet conceded a goal in the first three games.
Young goalkeeper Sommer, the heir to Onana, has hardly been questioned in 270 minutes of play. Not too busy against Monza, not too busy against Cagliari, not too busy against Fiorentina.
As "Opta" reveals, Inter did not have a similar "guide" for 57 years. The last time the blacks managed to win the first three games of the championship, without conceding a goal, was in the 1966/67 season.
It was Helenio Herrera's Great Inter, who won the first leg 4-0 in Foggia, the second leg 2-0 at home against Lanerossi Vicenza and the third leg 5-0 in Bergamo against Atalanta. The series would be interrupted in the fourth game against Lecco (2-1). For the record, that championship, despite the fact that Inter had managed to win the first seven games, went to Juventus (49 points against the black and white's 48).
While waiting to find out whether the young Pavard will be able to steal the starter's place from the guaranteed Matteo Darmian and therefore who will actually take the jersey of Milan Skriniar's heir, an element that has taken back seat in recent seasons: Stefan De Vrij.
The Dutchman has always been Inzaghi's protégé since his time at Lazio. The coach had the Slovak Skriniar as his first choice, but in the last season he preferred to trust the other former blue and white, Acerbi. Not without controversy from De Vrij himself, whose departure at the end of the contract, at one point seemed certain.
And instead, suddenly, everything turned upside down. De Vrij has rejuvenated, made himself available, is taking advantage of his team-mate's muscular problems to add to the dilemmas in Inzaghi's head. He deserves a significant share of the credit in this clean-sheet start to the Championship.
"Three games without a goal is a good sign," said Simone Inzaghi at the press conference after the match. - Up to this moment we have worked very well. The beginning was perfect, we must continue with this motivation".
Next steps? Meanwhile, rest for the national teams. And then, above all, the derby against Milan, on Saturday, September 16. The two leaders against each other, a beautiful way to explore the ambitions and desires to overthrow the dominance of Naples.