Inzaghi pushing in-form Inter to new heights as Atletico come to town

Inter are in red-hot form as they await the visit of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, eight wins from eight in 2024 giving them the Italian Super Cup and a nine-point lead over Juventus in Italy's top flight - with a game in hand. Inzaghi has long been viewed as a cup coach, one who can win the domestic knockout baubles but isn't capable of challenging for football's biggest prizes.

But last year's run to the Champions League final and their imperious current campaign in Serie A suggests that Inzaghi belongs at the top table. Inter have two points fewer than reigning champions Napoli - who charged to the Scudetto with five matches to spare - did at the same point last season.

However Inter have scored a goal more and have a better goal difference than Napoli did after 24 games, on their way to finishing a triumphant season 16 points clear. "We're now in that period where the matches are all close together so we're going to have to good enough to react to problems," said Inzaghi after Friday's 4-0 thrashing of Salernitana.

Inter destroyed Serie A's bottom team to win their eighth straight match after statement victories over Juve and Roma, leaving fans wondering just how far their team can go in Europe's top club competition. "We're playing really well," Inzaghi added. "It's difficult, you have to wait until the end of the season to make any conclusions."

What makes Inter's season even more remarkable is that it comes after yet another pre-season in which big players left and serious financial problems hampered their summer transfer activity. Inter weren't even sure who their first-choice goalkeeper was going to be until a fortnight before the start of the season after Andre Onana was sold to Manchester United in a 57 million-euro