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#3 Inter Milan have sizzled at both ends
There are two ways to win games - outscore your opponents or prevent them from scoring. Inter Milan have done both this season. They are the top-scoring side with 51 goals from 20 league outings. They also have the second-best defensive record, having conceded 16 goals, one more than third-placed Napoli.
Lautaro Martinez is the fourth-highest goalscorer in Serie A this season with 11 goals. Meanwhile, Calhanoglu and Barella are second in the assist charts with seven assists apiece. The duo of Dzeko and Martinez has combined for 24 goals in the league.
Similarly, Samir Handanovic is second in the league in clean sheets, managing nine shutouts so far. Inter have also averaged 15.3 tackles per 90, the fifth-most in the league, and have conceded 11 shots per game, also fifth-best in the league.
#2 New signings have taken no time in integrating with the team
One of the biggest tasks at hand Inter Milan faced ahead of the 2021-22 campaign was to fill the void left by Romelu Lukaku's departure in the summer. They signed Edin Dzeko, a striker with a proven track record in the Italian top flight. He hasn't disappointed, scoring eight league goals this term.
Achraf Hakimi's departure also weakened their squad, but Denzel Dumfries has been good value for money. He has also provided decent output in attack with three goals and two assists.
However, no new Inter signing has made a bigger impact this season than Hakan Calhanoglu, who arrived from rivals AC Milan on a free transfer. With six goals and seven assists, he has blossomed into a role Christian Eriksen could not fit in at the club.
After taking into consideration that Dzeko and Calhanoglu were signed for free, Inter could not have asked for anything more. New signings usually take some time to settle in and blossom, but the duo has hit the ground running for the reigning champions.
Dzeko and Calhanoglu have been key players for Inter this season. Inter's pole position in the standings would have been difficult had the new signings taken time to integrate at the club.
#1 Simone Inzaghi's tactics have instilled discipline into his squad
Simone Inzaghi's first season at Inter Milan is going very well. He has improved the 3-5-2 system he inherited from Antonio Conte. One significant change has been that Inter have one of the best disciplinary records in the league, with no player receiving a red card yet.
They have committed just 12.3 fouls per game, and the strikers have been offside only 1.4 times per 90. That discipline has helped players avoid suspensions and be available for key matches throughout the season.
