Reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan will be looking to secure their first win of the season when they welcome Lecce to San Siro on Saturday. After a disappointing start to their title defence, where they settled for a 2-2 draw against Genoa, the Nerazzurri are eager to bounce back in front of their home fans.
In their opening match, Inter saw Marcus Thuram score a remarkable brace, but a late equalizer from Genoa denied them all three points. Thuram’s performance was a highlight, as he managed to find the net twice, including a goal that was initially ruled offside before VAR intervened. However, defensive lapses allowed Genoa to capitalize, leaving coach Simone Inzaghi frustrated.
Historically, Inter have a strong record in their opening home fixtures, having never lost one in the past 11 years, with nine victories to their name. They also boast an impressive track record against Lecce at San Siro, winning 17 out of 18 encounters in Serie A, while conceding only six goals. Lecce, who are still searching for their first league goal of the season, have struggled recently, failing to score in their last four matches.
Lecce’s season began poorly with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Atalanta, raising concerns among fans about their ability to compete this term. Under new management, Luca Gotti, the team will look to improve after a tough start.
Team News
In terms of team news, Inter may see the return of summer signing Piotr Zielinski, who missed the first game due to a muscular injury. However, Stefan de Vrij and Tajon Buchanan remain sidelined. Inter is expected to field their familiar attacking duo of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, both of whom will be looking to make an impact.
On the Lecce side, they will travel with a near-full squad, missing only Mohamed Kaba due to a long-term knee injury. New signings Kialonda Gaspar, Balthazar Pierret, and Tete Morente are likely to retain their places in the starting lineup, while Nikola Krstovic will lead the attack.
Expected Starting Lineups:
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Lecce (4-3-3): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret, Morente; Rafia, Dorgu, Krstovic
