Late goals from Mkhitaryan and Akanji reward INTER’s dominance as the league leaders extend their winning streak and tighten their grip on the Scudetto race.
Serie A Matchday 26 confirmed Inter’s relentless march at the top of the table, as they defeated Lecce 2-0 at the Via del Mare to record their seventh straight league victory.
The Nerazzurri now sit on 64 points and continue to pull away in the title race, while LECCE’s positive run comes to an end as they glance nervously over their shoulders in the relegation battle.
First Half: Total Control, No Breakthrough
INTER imposed themselves from the opening whistle, dictating tempo and territory. The first chance came inside a minute when Gaspar threw himself in front of Thuram’s effort, injuring himself in the process to preserve parity.
Chivu’s side piled up opportunities through Dimarco, Luis Henrique—denied on the line by Siebert—Esposito, Thuram, Sucic, and Zieliński, but LECCE stood firm. The hosts defended deep and compact, frustrating the league leaders despite barely venturing forward.
Second Half: Patience Rewarded
The pattern remained unchanged after the break. INTER even thought they had taken the lead through Dimarco, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
LECCE showed flashes of life after Banda’s introduction, yet it was only a matter of time before the visitors broke through. In the 75th minute, a corner delivered by Federico Dimarco was met inside the box by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who fired home to finally beat Falcone.
With the resistance cracked, INTER struck again seven minutes later. Once more from a Dimarco corner, Manuel Akanji rose highest to power a header beyond Falcone and seal the result.
The substitutions proved decisive for Chivu, as Mkhitaryan and Akanji provided the cutting edge that had been missing for over an hour. INTER march on; LECCE must regroup quickly.
Match Report
LECCE 0-2 INTER
Scorers:
75’ Mkhitaryan (INTER)
82’ Akanji (INTER)
LECCE (4-2-3-1):
Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar (Siebert 4’), Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly (Stulić 83’), Ramadani; Pierotti (Ndri 83’), Gandelman (Ngom 59’), Sottil (Banda 59’); Cheddira.
Head coach: Di Francesco.
INTER (3-5-2):
Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij (Akanji 61’), Bastoni (Carlos Augusto 88’); Luis Henrique (Diouf 69’), Frattesi, Zieliński, Sucic (Mkhitaryan 61’), Dimarco; Thuram (Bonny 69’), Esposito.
Head coach: Chivu.
Referee: Manganiello
Bookings: De Vrij, Bastoni (INTER); Tiago Gabriel (LECCE)
Red cards: None
