Inter Milan back at top of the Serie A table with win over Bologna

The Serie A table has a look we haven’t seen for years.

Not only is Juventus in 12th and nine points back, but Inter – one of two Milan clubs stuck in a five year regression, having qualified a European competition just once in the last three years – is on top.

Led by Roberto Mancini, the defense has conceded just seven goals through 10 matches, and only three if you remove the 4-1 loss to Fiorentina – their only loss of the year – that saw Inter play the final hour a man down.

Behind a goal from Mauro Icardi, they jumped back atop the table with today’s 1-0 win over Bologna. To seal it, Samir Handanovic – maybe the most underrated goalkeeper in the European game – made this save in the 95th minute.

To be fair, Handanovic after the match conceded that save was a little bit lucky, considering Mattia Destro hit it almost right at him.

The million dollar question is: is their early-season success sustainable? The club has six wins this season, and every single one has come by a one-goal margin. Today’s win was their first since September 23, after a month slide that could foreshadow a dip in form to come. For now, they’re hanging on thanks mostly to a 5-game win streak to start the season.

But for fans yearning for the glory days of the 2009/10 season, this will do for now. For years, this team has slogged its way through the mud, never truly challenging but never fully collapsing into complete obscurity. Now, anywhere close to a rise up the table with the promise of long-term improvement is what the team will be aiming for. They have the first, they must prove they can maintain the second.