Inter Milan are on the brink of history, poised to clinch their 21st Serie A title and secure the coveted second star on their iconic black and blue jersey. In a remarkable debut season, manager Cristian Chivu has steered the Nerazzurri to a commanding nine-point lead at the summit with just six games remaining, a gap that seems insurmountable for rivals Napoli and AC Milan.

This impending triumph comes despite a curious and glaring statistic: Inter have struggled in the season's marquee matchups. Against their direct title rivals, they have managed just a single point from four league clashes. Yet, their dominance elsewhere has been absolute and ruthless.

The secret to their success lies in an almost flawless record against the rest of the league. Against teams outside the top three, Inter have been a relentless winning machine, accruing a staggering 74 points at an average of 2.88 points per game. This relentless consistency against the so-called "smaller" sides has more than compensated for their stumbles on the biggest stages, proving that in a marathon league campaign, week-in, week-out excellence is the ultimate key to glory.