La Gazzetta dello Sport’s figures underline the importance of Internazionale’s substitutes this season: across the first 10 matches, they have contributed five goals and four assists. Their influence has helped Internazionale recover from difficult positions and remain unbeaten, with Cristian Chivu repeatedly turning to his bench to change matches.
Chivu dislikes describing them as “substitute players”, insisting his squad is made up entirely of starters. The results, however, show how often those introduced during games have provided the solution.
Against Fiorentina, coached by Raffaele Palladino, Internazionale created opportunities but were repeatedly denied by De Gea before former Milan player Jimenez scored unexpectedly in Provedel’s debut. Pio Esposito was replaced by Ange-Yoan Bonny in the 64th minute, while Bonny’s movement and willingness to move wide offered greater flexibility.
In the 78th minute, Piotr Zielinski replaced Hakan Calhanoglu, Petar Sucic came on for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Federico Dimarco replaced Alessandro Bastoni. The changes improved Internazionale’s possession and presence on the left, allowing Carlos Augusto to advance more regularly. Sucic also raised the quality of the performance. Andy Diouf combined with Marcus Thuram for the equaliser before the Frenchman won the decisive penalty, which Zielinski converted.
Internazionale also needed their bench in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian side controlled possession as Chivu’s more cautious system struggled to create chances. In the 59th minute, Andy Diouf replaced Spence, Zielinski came on for Calhanoglu, Yann Bisseck replaced Dimarco and Carlos Augusto moved to the wing.
After Bastoni was sent off in the 68th minute, Mkhitaryan replaced Bonny in the 75th. The Armenian operated behind the lone striker, helping Internazionale retain quality on the counter-attack. Zielinski began the move for the winner two minutes later, Mkhitaryan produced an inspired pass and Carlos Augusto finished to secure Internazionale’s first three Champions League points with 10 men.
Palladino’s Bologna then disrupted Internazionale with aggressive pressing and man-marking. With Lautaro Martinez injured, Esposito and Thuram started up front, but Bonny replaced Esposito in the 58th minute. Andy Diouf came on for Luis Henrique in the 69th, adding energy on the right, while Carlos Augusto’s impact on the left exceeded Dimarco’s fading influence. The Brazilian scored to make it 2-1, with Diouf involved in the attack.
Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu entered in the 79th minute, and four minutes later the substitutes combined: Calhanoglu found Carlos Augusto, who set up Bonny for Internazionale’s fourth goal.
Bonny has scored three times as a substitute, including in the comeback against Udinese. Abankwah and Ekkelenkamp put Udinese 2-0 ahead inside 16 minutes, but Carlos Augusto, Nicolo Barella and Thuram turned the match around before Pio Esposito and Bonny added further goals. Bonny’s 79th-minute strike made it 5-2 in a 5-3 victory, taking his efficiency to one goal every 155 minutes.
On September 5th, Thuram and Carlos Augusto came off the bench against Massimiliano Allegri’s Napoli after Politano and Hojlund scored within three minutes. Thuram scored from Carlos Augusto’s assist in the 82nd minute, before Lautaro equalised in first-half stoppage time for a 3-2 Internazionale victory.
