Inter Milan emerged victorious against Lecce with a score of 1-0 in the 16th round of Serie A, leaving Lecce empty-handed at San Siro. The only goal of the match came in the 77th minute when Francesco Pio Esposito unleashed a brilliant left-wing solo run, striking the ball from the edge of the area and leaving the Lecce goalkeeper bewildered.
Esposito was undoubtedly the standout performer of the match, showcasing his exceptional skills by scoring the decisive goal and hitting the target twice. Additionally, Henrikh Mkhitaryan played a pivotal role in the midfield, attempting five shots on goal and helping to maintain Inter’s offensive pressure.
Inter’s head coach, Cristian Chivu, fielded a tactical 3-5-2 formation, featuring Yann Sommer in goal; a defensive line comprising Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni; while Andy Diouf, Nicolò Barella, Piotr Zielinski, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Carlos Augusto anchored the midfield. Ange Bonny and Marcus Thuram were tasked with leading the attack.
Lecce, managed by Eusebio Di Francesco, opted for a 4-5-1 formation, with Wladimiro Falcone taking charge between the posts. The defensive unit included Danilo Veiga, Jamil Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, and Antonino Gallo, while their midfield consisted of Lassana Coulibaly, Youssef Maleh, Santiago Pierotti, Omri Gandelman, and Riccardo Sottil, with Nikola Stulic at the forefront.
The match was officiated by referee Fabio Maresca, who ensured the game was conducted fairly.
Looking ahead, Inter will travel to face Udinese in their next fixture, while Lecce is set to visit Milan. With this victory, Inter now sits at the top of the Serie A standings with 46 points, while Lecce remains in 17th position with only 17 points.
Inter Substitutions
55’ 2H – Nicolò Barella was replaced by Davide Frattesi.
56’ 2H – Ange Bonny was replaced by Francesco Pio Esposito, and Andy Diouf came off for Luis Henrique.
71’ 2H – Henrikh Mkhitaryan made way for Lautaro Martínez.
86’ 2H – Marcus Thuram was substituted by Petar Sucic.
Yellow Cards for Inter:
16’ 1H – Marcus Thuram (simulation of a foul); 48’ 2H – Luis Henrique (unsporting behavior).
Lecce Substitutions
68’ 2H – Riccardo Sottil was substituted by Teté Morente, and Omri Gandelman was replaced by Mohamed Kaba.
81’ 2H – Santiago Pierotti came off for Konan NDri.
85’ 2H – Youssef Maleh was replaced by Alex Sala.
Yellow Card for Lecce:
17’ 2H – Danilo Veiga (unsporting behavior).