Stadio Giuseppe Meazza forms the backdrop for a ‘David vs Goliath’ Serie A showdown between reigning champions Inter and perennial strugglers Lecce. Saturday’s encounter in Lombardia is a chance for Simone Inzaghi’s team to erase the memory of a gut-wrenching start to their Scudetto defense.
Marcus Thuram’s goals on either side of halftime saw Inter overturn an early deficit against Genoa on the opening Serie A weekend. However, Yann Bisseck gave away a cheap injury-time penalty, helping Junior Messias level the score in a nail-biting 2-2 draw at Luigi Ferraris.
In doing so, the young defender made Inter the second reigning Serie A champions to go winless at the beginning of their title defense in the past 14 years. Juventus’ 1-0 home loss to Udinese in 2015/16 was the only identical case in the previous 13 seasons.
As such, Inter will have an added motive to maintain their four-match winning streak against Lecce. Inzaghi’s charges can find solace in the fact only four sides collected all three points on matchday one. Visiting Lecce allowed Atalanta to join that select group.
Despite enjoying a bright start to Monday’s clash at Stadio Via del Mare, the Giallorossi slumped to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat. Marco Brescianini and Mateo Retegui bagged a brace apiece on their debut for La Dea to hand Lecce a dismal league start.
Manager Luca Gotti stares at the face of adversity, with Lecce’s underwhelming day-one performance casting doubt on their bid to extend a three-year tenure in Italy’s top flight.
Match Preview
Inter
After a heartbreaking draw at the Marassi, Inter could set an unwanted piece of history on Saturday. Failing to beat Lecce would see the Nerazzurri become the fourth Scudetto holder since the start of the three-points-per-win era in 1994/95 to start a season winless in their first two matches.
However, a long history of this fixture suggests they’re in pole position to get in the win column. Except for a 1-0 loss in 2000, Inter have won all 17 remaining home games against Lecce in Serie A, including three consecutive victories by 2+ goals ‘to nil’ ahead of this contest.
Furthermore, Inter pulled off a league double over Lecce last term. Following a 2-0 win in this corresponding fixture in December 2023, Inzaghi’s lads brushed the Giallorossi aside with an overwhelming 4-0 triumph at Via del Mare in February.
Lecce
Lecce finished the opening round at the foot of the Serie A table. They’re unlikely to escape the bottom after Gameweek 2 if their away form in 2023/24 is anything to go by. Gotti’s underachievers managed just two wins on 19 league travels last season (D8, L9).
However, only one of those nine defeats came from their last six road trips (W3, D2). That would be comforting if not for the fact that loss arrived on this ground in April when Inter’s arch-rivals Milan thumped Lecce 3-0.
There’s a feeling that Lecce’s best chance to avoid another catastrophe would be to open the scoring. That’s easier said than done, given they’ve conceded first in their last six meetings with Inter, going on to lose four via multiple-goal margins (D1, L5).
Team News
Inter boss Inzaghi still cannot call upon Dutch center-back Stefan de Vrij, who should return to the starting line-up for the Atalanta game next week. Tajon Buchanan is out with a long-term knee injury, but marquee midfield signing Piotr Zielinski is back from a two-week spell on the sidelines.
On the other hand, Lecce will take this trip without French midfielder Mohamed Kaba. But, there are question marks over the heads of Nicola Sansone and Joan Gonzalez. Newcomers Kialonda Gaspar, Balthazar Pierret, and Tete Morente should retain their places in the starting XI.
Inter vs Lecce Potential Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
Lecce (4-2-3-1): Wladimiro Falcone; Valentin Gendrey, Federico Baschirotto, Kialonda Gaspar, Antonino Gallo; Ylber Ramadani, Balthazar Pierret; Tete Morente, Hamza Rafia, Patrick Dorgu; Nikola Krstovic.
Inter vs Lecce Prediction
This clash has all the makings of a one-way traffic unless Lecce can do the unthinkable. Anything other than an emphatic win for Inter would be a massive shock, given their superior quality, home advantage, and historical dominance.
Prediction: Inter to Win
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