Inter 2024/25 season preview: Predicted line-up, key fixtures and players to watch

Having sealed their 20th scudetto with five games to spare and an impressive 19-point cushion over second-placed AC Milan, Inter will head into the new 2024/25 Serie A season as undisputed favourites for many.

Simone Inzaghi's side have retained the spine of their team, with both Lautaro Martinez and Niccolo Barella committing their futures to the Nerazzurri by signing contract renewals.

While it is fair to expect them to be among the title contenders, it remains to be seen how they'll deal with fiercer competition and whether the players will still show the chemistry that proved priceless last term.

Inter 2024 summer transfers

Inter's summer transfer window hasn't been the busiest, as sporting director (and now club president) Giuseppe Marotta has focused his efforts on extending the contracts of their biggest stars to keep Inzaghi's squad competitive.

Preventing the sales of the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Barella and Lautaro Martinez, just to name the most sought-after players on the market, was already a significant sign of progress when compared to the Nerazzurri's recent history.

This allowed Inter's management to target specific players to add depth to an already solid foundation – Piotr Zielinski and striker Mehdi Taremi joined on free transfers and will provide Inzaghi with more reliable alternatives both in midfield and attack.

Furthermore, 26-year-old goalkeeper Josep Martinez was signed from Genoa for €13.5m with a view to taking Yann Sommer's place in the long-term. While the Swiss is likely to initially remain Inzaghi's first choice, Martinez will probably be given chances to prove his worth, notably before or after Champions League fixtures.

Alexis Sanchez's departure deprived Inter of an attacking option, which is why Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson has been linked with a move to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza throughout the summer.

Yet, the Nerazzurri will need to dispatch Joaquin Correa before signing any other player in the final weeks of the transfer market, which could also see them try to bring in a new centre-back.

How will Inter line up in the new season?

Inter's summer friendlies, which included a win against Las Palmas and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Al-Ittihad, before a final clash against Chelsea, provided little guidance on how Simone Inzaghi could tweak his starting XI this coming season, given that many players were still on holiday.

What is certain is that the coach won't budge from his trademark 3-5-2 formation. However new signings Zielinksi and Taremi look likely to be more than simple back-ups, with Davide Frattesi also expected to get more playing time compared to last season.

Rotations will prove crucial to help Inzaghi in a lengthy season marked by the new expanded Champions League format, as he'll be required to manage his players' fatigue and get the best out of their moments of form.

This is how Inter's predicted first-choice line-up for 2024/25 looks like as of today: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij (Acerbi), Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella (Frattesi), Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan (Zielinski); Lautaro, Thuram (Taremi).

Inter's key fixtures in 2024/25

Inter's 2024/2025 Serie A season will kick off against Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where they were held on a 1-1 draw last season.

Simone Inzaghi will face his first stern test of the season before September's international break, as the Beneamata will meet Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the third round on 30 August.

The fifth Serie A matchday will already be a circled date on the fans' calendar, with Inter hosting AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina on September 21/22, shortly after the players' return from international duty.

The Biscione will also host head-to-heads against Juventus and Napoli throughout the Autumn, on 27 October and 10 November respectively (dates to be confirmed).

Return legs against Milan, Juventus and Napoli, all of whom are expected to be involved in the fight for the title, will all fall in the space of one month during the winter, between early February and the beginning of March.

Inter's season will come to an end on May 25, 2025 with an away match at newly-promoted Como.

Inter players to watch this season

Inter's few new faces will obviously be under the spotlight.

Former Porto striker Taremi has been scoring with impressing consistency over the last few seasons and his impact on Serie A will be closely linked to the Nerazzuri's chances of defending their title. Should he hit double figures in his first season in Milan, Inter's main competitors could struggle to match their attacking potential.

After eight seasons at Napoli, 30-year-old Zielinski will also have to prove his peak is not behind him – Inzaghi hopes he can bring more goals from open play and add quality in the final third, which could be crucial to help his side break down even the tightest defences.

Beyond the new signings, centre-back Yann Bisseck seems to have the credentials to become one of Inter's revelations this year. He's been impressing during the pre-season, as his physical strength and ability to break the opponents' lines by carrying the ball could persuade Inzaghi to give him more space in the coming months.