Inter Milan are aiming to begin their season on home front with a bang, as they welcome Lecce, with Simone Inzaghi keen on their first win.
Inter Milan have not lost any of their first home game of a Serie A season for the last 11 years, and Simone Inzaghi will aim to keep up with the record when they welcome Lecce to San Siro on Saturday. The Serie A champions began their title defence with an exciting draw away to Genoa, where they dropped two points right at the death.
Last season’s top scorer and skipper, Lautaro Martinez, had a quiet game against Genoa, as it was his strike partner Marcus Thuram who ended up with a brace. The Frenchman appeared to have snatched a win late on in the game after VAR intervention allowed the goal to stand.
However, later on, Yann Bisseck handled the ball inside his area, with former AC Milan attacker Junior Messias scoring from the spot and allowing Genoa to take a point. At this point, Inzaghi will put some pressure on his players to deliver, as he will demand a win in their opening home game of the domestic season.
Luca Gotti has a big task ahead of him in getting a result in a ground they have been awful at in the last many years. Lecce have lost 17 of their last 18 visits to San Siro when facing Inter Milan as the host, with one win and only a single goal to show for in that period.
They opened their Serie A account with a. home clash against Atalanta, as Marco Brescianini and Mateo Retegui scored a brace each to maul down Lecce. It’s a disappointing start for Gotti and his hopes to have a good season as he readies his side to take on the Champions, Inter Milan, at San Siro.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi does not have too many names missing beyond Stefan de Vrij and Tajon Buchanan in the squad. The manager could make minor alterations to his lineup, with Yann Bisseck likely to make way for the fit-again Benjamin Pavard. Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni operate the other places in that back three.
Inzaghi could also bring in Denzel Dumfries for Matteo Darmian in the right-wing-back slot. But beyond that, the team will have a familiar feeling to it compared to the first matchday.
Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will retain their midfield berths, with Marcus Thuram and Martinez operating in those front two roles, as the latter will hope to open his account for the season when Inter Milan host Lecce this weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Lecce
Lecce are expected to have a fully fit squad ahead of their trip to Milan, with only Mohamed Kaba, their long-term absentee as he continues his recovery from a knee problem. Gotti might also retain new arrivals, Newcomers Kialonda Gaspar, Balthazar Pierret and Tete Morente, in the starting lineup after handing their first start against Atalanta.
It does seem like Luca Gotti might have his strongest team in his mind, with Gaspar set to partner with Federico Baschirotto at the heart of the defence, flanked by Valentin Gendrey and Antonino Gallo.
Ylber Ramadani will have new arrival Pierret in the middle, with Filip Marchwinski set to feature in the advanced midfield role. Nikola Krstovic will lead the line for Lecce against Inter Milan, with Lameck Banda and Patrick Dorgu attacking from the wide areas on either flank.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Gendrey, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Banda, Marchwinski, Dorgu; Krstovic
Key Stats
- Inter Milan have won their last ten home matches against Lecce in all competitions.
- Inter are undefeated in 32 of their last 33 matches in Serie A.
- Inter have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven home matches against Lecce in all competitions.
- Lecce have one victory in 18 visits to San Siro to face Inter Milan.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
The Inter Milan skipper copuld not get off the mark, something he will try and do in the home clash against Lecce. Last weekend, it was his strike partner Marcus Thuram who got the brace, and there is already an internal race for the golden boot brewing at the club, or at least Simone Inzaghi will hope for it healthily.
Martinez was not in good goalscoring form since February of this year, and despite that, Inter Milan were able to find solutions from other players. Inzaghi will totally rely on his captain to deliver the goods and open his account in this season’s Serie A when Inter Milan host Lecce on Saturday.
Prediction
Inter Milan 3-0 Lecce
Lecce will rue the fixtures they have at the start of the season, as they are only still recovering from the 4-0 mauling at the hands of Atalanta that they are now travelling to face Inter Milan. Luca Gotti will have to put in a masterclass to oust his counterpart Inzzaghin in this game of wits at San Siro.
Inter Milan will be desperate to kick start their season after a draw in their opening game, as Inzaghi will hope those dropped points act as motivation for his players. With home comfort and a dominant record against Lecce, the hosts are expected to breeze past their visitors and keep a clean sheet.