A hard-fought win at San Siro sees Inter edge past Lecce, extend their lead to +6 over Napoli, and finish the first half of the season on top of Serie A.
Inter had to dig deep at San Siro to overcome a stubborn Lecce side, eventually securing a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Pio Esposito. The win allows Cristian Chivu’s team to move six points clear of Napoli and officially claim the title of Campioni d’Inverno, Winter Champions of Serie A.
Despite controlling possession from start to finish, Inter struggled to find the tempo and precision needed to break down Lecce’s compact defensive setup. The match seemed destined to mirror Napoli’s recent home slip-up, with frustration growing among the home crowd as chances went begging.
Midway through the first half, Inter were briefly awarded a penalty after a clash in the box between Danilo Veiga and Bonny, but referee Maresca overturned the decision following a VAR review. Lecce grew in confidence and, early in the second half, even came close to taking the lead when Siebert fired from close range, forcing Yann Sommer into a crucial save aided by a slight deflection.
Chivu turned to his bench in search of a breakthrough, and the changes eventually paid off. In the 78th minute, Lautaro Martínez—introduced after being rested for much of the match—saw his close-range effort brilliantly parried by Falcone. The Lecce goalkeeper had been outstanding once again, but he could do nothing about the rebound, which fell perfectly for Pio Esposito. The young striker made no mistake with the tap-in, scoring his second league goal of the season and sparking celebrations across San Siro.
Lecce pushed in the closing minutes but lacked the quality to trouble Inter’s defense again. The final whistle confirmed a vital win for the Nerazzurri, who now look to have taken their first real step toward the Scudetto.
Match Report: Inter 1-0 Lecce
Scorer:
78’ Pio Esposito (Inter)
Inter (3-5-2):
Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Diouf (Luis Henrique 57’), Barella (Frattesi 57’), Zielinski, Mkhitaryan (Lautaro 72’), Carlos Augusto; Bonny (Pio Esposito 56’), Thuram (Sucic 87’).
Coach: Chivu
Lecce (4-2-3-1):
Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Maleh (Sala 86’); Pierotti (N’Dri 82’), Gandelman (Kaba 69’), Sottil (Morente 68’); Stulic.
Coach: Di Francesco
Referee: Maresca
Yellow cards: Thuram (Inter), Veiga (Lecce), Luis Henrique (Inter)
Red cards: None
