Inter Milan's Italian defender #36 Matteo Darmian hits the ball to score his team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan and Lecce at San Siro Stadium in Milan, on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Inter Milan's Italian defender #36 Matteo Darmian hits the ball to score his team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan and Lecce at San Siro Stadium in Milan, on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Matteo Darmian and a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty gave Inter their first victory of the season, adding to Lecce’s woes.

The Nerazzurri started their season with a 2-2 draw at Genoa and lost Lautaro Martinez to an adductor injury, with Stefan de Vrij and Tajon Buchanan also still out, but Piotr Zielinski was back on the bench as Mehdi Taremi got his first start. Lecce lost 4-0 to Atalanta, missing Mohamed Kaba and Joan Gonzalez.

See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.

The hosts took the lead within five minutes, as Taremi only glanced the Federico Dimarco cross, but it turned into an accidental assist for Matteo Darmian’s free header at the back post.

Another Dimarco cross was fingertipped away by Wladimiro Falcone, with Federico Baschirotto charging down the follow-up from tonight’s captain Nicoló Barella.

Benjamin Pavard just about cleared a dangerous Nikola Krstovic pull-back from the by-line, while Taremi missed the acrobatic bicycle-kick on a Darmian cross.

Marcus Thuram turned wide from a Barella pass after the restart and there was chaos on 54 minutes when Taremi pounced on a loose ball, was just about denied by Falcone and Kialonda Gaspar, until Thuram’s follow-up was charged down. On first viewing, it looked like a penalty for Inter, but replays confirm the referee was right that if anything Taremi fouled Gaspar.

Lecce were still in it, Krstovic’s header smothered by Yann Sommer, but moments later Gaspar gave away a penalty for dragging down Thuram. It was converted by Hakan Calhanoglu, maintaining his perfect record from the spot.

Marko Arnautovic almost scored with his first touch for Inter, nodding over from six yards on a Calhanoglu free kick.

Medon Berisha had Lecce’s best chance in stoppages with a daisy-cutter from distance that Sommer had to fingertip round the base of the upright.

Inter 2-0 Lecce

Darmian 5 (I), Calhanoglu pen 70 (I)

Player statistic

1st half
Matteo Darmian
(Assist: Mehdi Taremi)
Goal 5'    
    31' Yellow card Antonino Gallo
2nd half
    60' Yellow card Lameck Banda
Hakan Calhanoglu Penalty 69'    

Match statistic

61
Possession %
39
11
Total shots
10
3
Shots on target
4
5
Shots off target
4
3
Blocked shots
2
10
Corners
6
4
Offsides
9
Fouls
12
Inter
Lecce

Starting lineups

1
Goalkeeper
95
28
Defender
32
Defender
72'
15
Defender
36
Defender
72'
20
Midfielder
82'
22
Midfielder
23
Midfielder
72'
9
Attacker
76'
99
Attacker
30
Goalkeeper
25
Defender
4
Defender
13
Defender
17
Defender
75
Midfielder
85'
8
Midfielder
64'
20
Midfielder
22
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker
86'

Substitutes

7
Midfielder
11
Attacker
13
Goalkeeper
12
Goalkeeper
31
Defender
16
Midfielder
72'
2
Midfielder
72'
30
Midfielder
72'
8
Attacker
76'
21
Midfielder
82'
98
Goalkeeper
14
23
Attacker
32
Goalkeeper
1
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
36
Midfielder
10
Attacker
27
Midfielder
50
64'
7
Attacker
64'
5
Midfielder
85'
29
Midfielder
86'
One thought on “Serie A | Inter 2-0 Lecce: Scudetto holders get first win”
  1. That performance wasn’t their best if they want to win the league they have to score more goals and create more chances , facing a top team in serie a would be difficult for them to gain 3 points. And base on that performance today am sure they wouldn’t gotten a win not to mention the champion league so don’t be praising ya’ll selves as yet

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