Inter’s unbeaten league start faces a test after Club Brugge defeat

Inter have 16 points from their first six Serie A games, but arrive at Bologna needing to respond to a 4-3 home defeat by Club Brugge. The European setback came after a 3-0 league win over Parma; now Cristian Chivu’s side must protect top spot while switching back to domestic football.

The contrast in league form is clear. Inter are unbeaten, with five wins and one draw, while Bologna sit 14th on five points after one win, two draws and three defeats. That first victory came at Lecce, where Bologna won 2-1 in Raffaele Palladino’s first win in charge.

For Bologna, the result offers a chance to build on a much-needed lift. For Inter, the priority is to make sure the defeat by Club Brugge does not interrupt their league momentum. The points gap makes Inter the stronger side on current Serie A form, but Bologna arrive with a fresh win behind them.

Calciomercato.com’s projected teams suggest contrasting shapes: Bologna in a 3-4-3 and Inter in a 3-5-2. Federico Bernardeschi, Roberto Piccoli and Nicholas Cambiaghi are listed in Bologna’s projected front three. Inter’s projected XI pairs Francesco Pio Esposito with Marcus Thuram, with Lautaro Martinez named in goal and Nicolò Barella among the midfielders.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at 18:00 CEST at Bologna’s Stadio Dall’Ara. Inter’s unbeaten start and 16-point lead at the top are the stakes; Bologna will look to turn their first win under Palladino into a more consistent run.