Having finished 2025 with four successive wins in SA, Inter looked full of confidence in the opening quarter-hour against Bologna, as Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram saw a pair of early efforts thwarted by Federico Ravaglia.
The one-way traffic continued as the first half progressed, but Ravaglia stood firm in the visitors’ goal, denying a long-range strike from Hakan Calhanoglu.
Grateful to still be on level terms, Bologna briefly threatened at the other end, with Jens Odgaard directing a header wide of the target when well-placed in the box.
Despite that chance, the Nerazzurri remained on the front foot with half-time approaching, and their dominance was rewarded in the 39th minute when Piotr Zielinski latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired a sublime strike beyond Ravaglia.
Martinez went close to doubling Inter’s lead before the break with a close-range header, but the Argentine didn’t have to wait long to get his name on the scoresheet.
An inswinging corner from Calhanoglu found the hosts’ talismanic striker unmarked in the box, and he headed home from six yards to extend the Nerazzurri’s advantage three minutes into the second period.
Armed with a two-goal cushion, Inter spurned several opportunities to put the game beyond Bologna, with Manuel Akanji firing wide and Martinez hitting the bar from only a couple of yards out.
Undeterred, a third goal duly arrived in the 74th minute, as Federico Dimarco’s corner was diverted into the net via the shoulder of Thuram.
Keen to add a hint of respectability to the scoreline, Vincenzo Italiano’s men netted a late consolation through Santiago Castro’s clinical finish in the box, but it ultimately counted for little, as Inter eased to a huge three points, while Bologna are now winless in five league outings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)