Inter swept Spezia aside 3-0 at San Siro with Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Joaquin Correa goals, while Romelu Lukaku was denied by the crossbar.
The Nerazzurri wanted to build confidence after a last-gasp victory away to Lecce, bringing Denzel Dumfries and Alessandro Bastoni into the starting XI. Spezia beat Empoli 1-0 in their opening round, but Daniele Verde joined Kelvin Amian, Salva Ferrer and Janis Antiste on the treatment table.
Bartlomiej Dragowski had to make a tricky save from point-blank range on the Dumfries header from a Hakan Calhanoglu free kick, then parried the Lautaro Martinez strike.
Inter took the lead when Nicolò Barella floated a ball over the top, Lukaku nodded it backwards and Lautaro Martinez let it bounce before thumping in the left-foot finish to the bottom corner.
Lukaku nearly got a goal of his own soon after, his header on a Barella pass looping up to hit the crossbar with Dragowski beaten. Lautaro Martinez also volleyed over from six yards on the stroke of half-time.
Inter doubled their lead when Lukaku attempted a give-and-go with Milan Skriniar in the penalty area, but the defender’s flick was charged down, turning into an accidental assist for Hakan Calhanoglu to drill low from just inside the area.
Edin Dzeko controlled a long Roberto Gagliardini pass and was forced wide by Dragowski, so generously rolled it back for Joaquin Correa to shrug off a defender and fire into the empty net.
Dzeko nearly added a fourth, this time Dragowski rushed off his line to block.
Inter 3-0 Spezia
Lautaro Martinez 35 (I), Calhanoglu 52 (I), Correa 82 (I)
Spezia doesn’t even have shot on goal. What a dominant performance by Inter!