It took till the seventy fifth minute to interrupt on-form Lecce down, however Inter took all three factors due to Federico Dimarco establishing Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji targets.
The Nerazzurri had been nonetheless shaken by their , particularly as additionally they misplaced Lautaro Martinez for a month to a soleus pressure throughout that match in Norway. Denzel Dumfries was nonetheless out, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella suspended, so Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram stepped in. with back-to-back wins over Udinese and Cagliari, and whereas Francesco Camarda and Medon Berisha had been injured, Lameck Banda returned from his ban for a spot on the bench.
Commercial
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale in the course of the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio By way of del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photograph by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Photographs)
Alessandro Bastoni was loudly jeered by the group at each contact following his self-confessed simulation to get Pierre Kalulu despatched off for Juventus final week.
Within the opening 35 seconds, Kialonda Gaspar at full stretch made a decisive block on Marcus Thuram’s angled drive, injuring himself within the course of and forcing a substitution inside 4 minutes.
Commercial
Substitute Jamil Siebert made a direct affect, as he carried out the goal-line clearance on a Luis Henrique volley from 12 yards to disclaim Inter the opener on 10 minutes.
Marcus Thuram nodded a Federico Dimarco free kick astray, whereas Francesco Pio Esposito’s strike was deflected over by Ylber Ramadani.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale in the course of the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio By way of del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photograph by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Photographs)
The Italian striker additionally pressured Wladimiro Falcone into an acrobatic one-handed save, whereas Ramadani fired over after shrugging off a weak Petar Sucic sort out inside the realm.
Commercial
Thuram stood up the ball on the by-line for Esposito’s header from a tough angle, denied once more by Falcone on the close to submit, whereas Frattesi fired over from a barely mis-placed Luis Henrique help.
Inter stepped up a gear after the restart and there was no one on the again submit to fulfill the flicked Frattesi header on a nook, then Dimarco had the ball within the internet on 51 minutes from a Thuram pull-back, however the Frenchman’s shoulder was offside within the build-up.
VAR exhibits Marcus Thuram’s offside place to disallow Federico Dimarco’s purpose for Inter in opposition to Lecce (Lega Serie A)
Lecce tried to go on the counter, however Banda slipped as he lower inside and obtained the shot away from the sting of the penalty space, as Frattesi nodded Bastoni’s cross vast of the close to submit.
Commercial
Bastoni learn the scenario nicely to forestall Santiago Pierotti reducing inside within the space, however Inter instantly went on the counter and scored from the ensuing nook.
Dimarco’s set play was flicked on and bounced in entrance of substitute Mkhitaryan, who swept within the half-volley from 14 yards with the proper foot, sending it by a crowd.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Henrickh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale celebrates after scorign his staff’s opening purpose in the course of the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio By way of del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photograph by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Photographs)
Commercial
It actually ought to’ve been 2-0 when Dimarco began the transfer from his personal half and mixed with Mkhitaryan, however the first shot was parried by Falcone’s foot, then the second try cleared off the road by Tiago Gabriel.
Inter did double their benefit from one other Dimarco nook, this one nodded in by a towering Manuel Akanji header into the far high nook.
Bastoni obtained a yellow card and might be suspended in opposition to Genoa, however secure for the Derby della Madonnina, and instantly afterwards was changed by Carlos Augusto to finish Inter’s ninth consecutive Serie A away victory.
Mkhitaryan 75 (I), Akanji 82 (I)
Put up navigation