Francesco Pio Esposito lastly broke Lecce down to present Inter a hard-fought victory, taking to safe their title as Winter Champions.
The Nerazzurri remained three factors clear on the high after , however misplaced Hakan Calhanoglu for a month, with Denzel Dumfries, Matteo Darmian, Josep Martinez, Raffaele Di Gennaro and Tomas Palacios already out of motion, so Cristian Chivu rotated his squad for as a consequence of Supercoppa Italiana commitments. Lecce had Lameck Banda, Kialonda Gaspar and Ylber Ramadani suspended after the chaotic 2-1 defeat to Parma, the place they ended the sport with 9 males, scraping one level from three rounds. Francesco Camarda and Medon Berisha have been out injured, however Woyo Coulibaly returned from AFCON responsibility, whereas Omri Gandelman was thrown straight into the beginning XI.
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MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Andy Diouf of FC Internazionale Milano passes the ball while below stress from Omri Gandelman of US Lecce throughout the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
Wladimiro Falcone bought down shortly to make a really difficult fingertip save on Ange-Yoan Bonny’s daisy-cutter from the sting of the realm, whereas Piotr Zielinski blasted over after a give and go, however Marcus Thuram was booked for simulation after taking place too simply below stress from Santiago Pierotti.
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The referee was extra satisfied by one other smooth connection between Bonny and Danilo Veiga, pointing to the spot regardless of the contact being minimal. Nevertheless, VAR confirmed him the footage, exhibiting that the Lecce participant bought a boot to the ball first, so it was revoked.
Thuram’s header went over and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s scorcher was deflected off course by Jamil Siebert, however in first half stoppages Riccardo Sottil went on the counter solely to fireplace large with Yann Sommer off his line.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Riccardo Sottil of US Lecce is challenged by Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano throughout the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
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Inter had an enormous likelihood after the restart, as first Falcone caught up one glove to push a Nicolò Barella header out from below the bar on the Carlos Augusto cross, then the transfer continued for Andy Diouf to drill large.
Diouf additionally examined Falcone with a weak end moments later, then Thuram’s right-foot roller was charged down, however with no breakthrough in sight, Inter threw on Francesco Pio Esposito and Lautaro Martinez for a trident assault.
Nevertheless, this left them unbalanced and Lecce had an enormous likelihood on 74 minutes when Mohamed Kaba dribbled into the realm, laying it off for Siebert’s deflected end from 14 yards, forcing a one-handed Sommer save.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Ange-Yoan Bonny of FC Internazionale Milano controls the ball while below stress from Jamil Siebert of US Lecce and teammates throughout the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
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Falcone was additionally at full stretch to fingertip away the Pio Esposito glancing header on a Luis Henrique ball into the field, however the dam lastly broke on 78 minutes.
Esposito knocked down a Piotr Zielinski ball for Lautaro Martinez, whose ferocious strike was parried from 12 yards, however the Italian was prepared to show within the rebound and get San Siro leaping.
He practically added a second moments later, chopping inside to shimmy away from a defender and bending the end inches large.
Pio Esposito 78 (I)