Sassuolo arrived in Reggio Emilia having bested Inter ten times in Serie A, more than any other club, and boasted a recent run of dominance that had seen them win two of their last three encounters against the Nerazzurri.

But at the Mapei Stadium last night, Cristian Chivu’s men proved that history is a flimsy shield against a team in world-class form.

Inter dismantled the “Sassuolo Hoodoo” with a clinical 5–0 victory, a result that felt less like a game and more like a coronation.

The onslaught began in the 11th minute when Yann Bisseck rose above the defense to thump home a trademark Federico Dimarco corner.

Dimarco, arguably the finest crosser in Europe right now, wasn’t finished; in the 28th minute, he whipped in another pinpoint delivery from the left, which Marcus Thuram met with a striker’s instinct to double the lead.

Sassuolo briefly thought they had found a lifeline late in the first half when Kristian Thorstvedt bundled the ball into the net, but the silence of the VAR room was followed by the sting of an offside call.

It was the last moment of genuine hope for the hosts.

Early in the second half, the league’s leading marksman, Lautaro Martínez, reminded everyone why he is the frontrunner for the Capocannoniere.

Controlling a loose ball on his chest with effortless grace, he unleashed a volley for his 14th goal of the campaign, effectively ending the contest.

Manuel Akanji added a fourth from another set-piece soon after, and Luis Henrique put the final gloss on the scoreline in the 89th minute with a stinging diagonal finish.

The only shadow on an otherwise perfect night for Inter was a moment of uncharacteristic volatility from their veteran leader.

Following Inter’s fourth goal, Nemanja Matić lost his composure during a heated protest with the official.

The former Manchester United man was shown a yellow card, followed immediately by a red, ruling him out of the upcoming clash with Udinese.

Despite the red card, Inter’s momentum feels unstoppable. They have now won eight consecutive away matches in Serie A, a streak stretching back to a rainy night in Naples last October.

With an eight-point cushion over AC Milan at the summit, Chivu’s side now turns its attention to a heavyweight bout against Juventus next weekend, followed by a frozen, high-stakes trip to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

On this evidence, however, Inter looks ready for any climate.