Why Marcus Thuram’s history-making headers could be key to Inter’s revival hopes ahead of visit of Sassuolo

First, the France striker started the season on fire, scoring three goals in three Serie A games to go top of the league scoring charts – despite his club picking up just three points.

Back-to-back defeats to Udinese and Juventus left Inter with three points, their worst start to a Serie A season in 14 years.

It has been quite a week for Thuram. In fact, it’s been quite a week for the entire Thuram family.

Juventus great Lilian Thuram shook his head in disbelief in Turin on Saturday when both of his sons, Marcus and Khephren, scored almost identical headed goals six minutes apart in a Derby d’Italia for the ages.

The moment that sparked anger and criticism from some Interist came when Marcus appeared to be smiling or laughing as he chatted to his brother during the VAR check for Adzic’s stunning last-gasp winner.

However, a midweek double in Amsterdam helped ensure that the storm passed quickly.

“People can interpret it however they want, but they know I’ll give everything for Inter. There’s no problem,” Thuram said after the game.

Controversy shelved, the focus was soon back on Thuram’s red-hot form, and especially the obvious improvements to his aerial game.

Both of the Frenchman’s goals against Ajax were towering headers from corners, just like the one he scored against Juventus, while his second on the opening day against Torino was wonderfully placed with his head too.

One repeated theme from last season is a fast start for the Frenchman. Thuram began last term like a runaway train, scoring 12 league goals by Christmas while his strike partner Lautaro Martinez mustered just five.

However, his drop-off in the second half of a gruelling campaign where Inter went all the way to the Champions League final, reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals and travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Supercoppa Italiana in January, was notable.

Thuram’s productivity slumped as he scored just two more times in Serie A after Christmas, while injuries began to disrupt his momentum too. Team-mate Alessandro Bastoni even made a joke of it after Inter’s thumping 5-0 win over Torino on the opening day of the new season, saying Thuram had “decided to go on holiday for the last six months”.

The slump is behind him now, with Thuram back in sizzling hot form just when his team needs him most.

Chivu succeeded Simone Inzaghi in the summer despite having just three months of senior managerial experience at Parma on his CV. A Treble winner as a player and successful youth coach at Inter, he had other forms of pedigree, but there are still no end of doubters questioning his appointment.

Needless to say, Thuram’s form has been the exception, not the norm in the Nerazzurri ranks.

Inter went into round four of the season with the joint-worst defensive record in the league after conceding six times in three games, and the talisman of their next opponents is one of their best-known foes.

Sassoulo captain Domenico Berardi may be a boyhood Inter fan, but he has done the Milanese club no favours in his career, scoring eight goals and setting up another four in 16 matches against them.

Back in the top-flight after bouncing straight back up by winning Serie B last season, Sassuolo have a good record in this fixture; they won both of their most recent league meetings in the 2023/24 season – including Berardi scoring in a 2-1 win at San Siro – and have three victories in the last five outings over their illustrious opponents.

For now, Chivu remains convinced that sticking with an Inzaghi-esque 3-5-2 formation remains the best path forward.

“I did want to stay with the 3-5-2, because this is what the team knows how to do,” he said after the Ajax win.

“We just wanted to add a few things, but above all, to rediscover the mental strength and confidence that had been lacking. I will continue along my path, trying not to do damage to a team that was already strong.”

Time will tell if he is proven right. In the Italian media, the visit of Sassuolo is seen as step one of a crucial fortnight.

With Sassuolo, Cagliari, Slavia Prague and Cremonese coming up in Inter’s next four games and only one of those – against Cagliari – being away from home, it is an opportunity to get things back on track after a tricky start.

“Everything in four matches,” wrote Gazzetta dello Sport. “Two weeks to get back on top.”

With Juventus and Napoli already sitting six points ahead, Inter and Chivu know they can’t afford many more slips – and Thuram’s headers may well be the secret to getting them out of their rut.