The 2022/23 Serie A campaign gets underway on Saturday as last season’s runners-up Inter take a trip to Stadio Via del Mare to meet newly-promoted Lecce. After surrendering the Scudetto to arch-rivals Milan in 2021/22, the Nerazzurri are hellbent on reclaiming domestic supremacy this term.
Lecce pulled off a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Pordenone on the final day of last season to seal the Serie B title. After cutting short a two-year absence from the Italian top flight, I Lupi are here to stay, though their activity in the transfer window suggests otherwise. A host of low-profile signings will likely face a season-long fight against the drop.
Meanwhile, Inter took Milan’s 19th Serie A title personally, as witnessed by their stellar recruitment programme in the summer. Simone Inzaghi’s men have brought Romelu Lukaku back from Chelsea on a season-long loan. On top of that, they have captured the services of Kristjan Asllani, Raoul Bellanova and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Match Preview
Lecce
Lecce based last season’s Serie B success on a solid home form. They racked up 13 league wins at Via del Mare in 2021/22 (D5, L1), accumulating more home points than any other side in the division. But replicating that feat in Serie A is a mammoth task, and not even the most die-hard I Lupi fans dare to believe it’s possible.
However, under no circumstances can Lecce allow to roll over despite coming into this encounter as betting outsiders. They should not be surprised that the odds are heavily stacked against them in this one. Indeed, Marco Baroni’s men have picked up just one win from their last 16 Serie A clashes against Inter (D2, L13).
In spite of all the negatives, there’s a silver lining for Lecce. They have not lost any of their last three top-flight meetings with Inter at Via del Mare (W1, D2). That’s probably the only positive. You don’t have to look beyond the fact Lecce have played more Serie A opening matches without ever winning (16) than any other side in the competition’s history.
Inter
Inter missed out on the Scudetto last season by the skin of their teeth. Inzaghi’s side finished second to Milan, courtesy of a two-point deficit. But an inspirational transfer window suggests the Nerazzurri have every intention to return to the throne this season.
After reassembling the formidable attacking partnership Lukaku-Lautaro Martinez, Inter could better last season’s tally of 84 Serie A goals. It’s enough to say they netted at least ten more goals than any other side in the Italian top-flight in 2021/22 to understand their attacking potential.
With Lukaku back to Giuseppe Meazza with a point to prove following an underwhelming season at Chelsea, Inter will boast arguably the fiercest attacking line-up in Serie A this term. That’s intimidating because Inzaghi’s men have already attempted the most shots (348) and fired the most shots on target (127) in Serie A since the start of 2022.
Stars have allied for Inter here as they look to get the new Serie A season off to a flying start. They haven’t lost any of their last 11 matchday-one fixtures against newly-promoted sides in the Italian elite competition (W9, D2), suggesting this one could be another day in the office for Lukaku & Co.
Team News
Johann Helgason, Alessandro Tuia and Kastriot Dermaku are still on the sidleines, nursing injuries. But Lecce will rely on top summer signing Assan Ceesay to put his scoring prowess on full display after bagging 22 goals for Zurich last season.
Inter will take the field at full bore, with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns to give Inzaghi’s selection a headache. No doubt Lukaku will be under the spotlight, but watch out for Martinez, who excelled in pre-season.
Lecce vs Inter Potential Line-ups
Lecce (3-4-3): Wladimiro Falcone; Valentin Gendrey, Alexis Blin, Kastriot Dermaku; Gianluca Frabotta, Kristijan Bistrovic, Morten Hjulmand, Kristoffer Askildsen; Gabriel Strefezza, Assan Ceesay, Francesco Di Mariano.
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco; Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez.