Inter beat Cagliari 2-1. Three points that helped Nerazzurri to climb Serie A towards safer zones. However, to keep talking about the Scudetto, like Ranieri still does, is a travesty. Current leaders Juventus and Lazio have 22 points, Inter only 11 – a huge gap that mirrors the difference in hunger and condition between these teams. Let’s be clear: Inter have no chance to overtake Juventus nor Lazio.

Juventus up, Inter down. Losing 1-2 at San Siro against Serie A’s current leaders, who also happened to be Nerazzurri’s most hated team, is not a normal loss. Not just because it reflects a new trend, but for several other reasons.

Drawing at Atalanta – arguably one of the best teams in Serie A at the moment and surely one of those in best shape – shouldn’t be regarded as a bad result. But if you are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League places you must win. And this is exactly where Inter have been since the beginning of the season. To reduce the gap from the top nothing less than winning any game is acceptable for Inter. Leonardo managed to do it brilliantly last season, recovering 16 points in nearly two months.

Inter’s win over Chievo was one of those bread and butter wins that any team with ambition must easily accomplish to climb the table. It happened to be the first home win of the season but, it must be said, it was not one to remember. Inter’s 1-0 defeat of Chievo was one of those games that can be easily forgotten but that will make all the difference at the end of the season.

Another away win. Since Ranieri’s arrival Inter have lost two games at home and won three, all away. In the Champions League the coach who replaced Gian Piero Gasperini has a 100% winning record – two games, two wins, both away, both by a one goal margin, both defeating two average teams.

These CL wins, which came after a home defeat against Trabzonspor (under Gasperini), put Inter at the top of the group D with six points, two more than CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor, four more than Lille. Their place at the top is not really in danger due to a shortage of decent opponents.