L'Inter wins in Lecce, Giallorossi fort crumbles in the finale

After the mauling in Norway, which will at least make the return of the Champions League playoff complicated, Inter is smiling again in the league, although against Lecce the spectres of a negative result hovered until fifteen minutes from the end, when the Giallorossi fortress fell under the blows of Mkhitaryan and Akanji. The Nerazzurri then consolidate their top spot in the standings, momentarily moving to +10 ahead of AC Milan, engaged on Sunday with Parma. Lecce, on the other hand, must guard against the onslaught of third-last Fiorentina, which would join the Giallorossi in the event of a victory Monday against Pisa.

The game is being played not only on the field but also in the stands, where Lecce fans are trying to put pressure especially on Bastoni, who has been pelted with whistles at every touch of the ball after the controversy of recent days. On the green rectangle, however, it is a one-goal game, with the first big chance coming on 10′; Luis Henrique concludes on the volley, Falcone deflects and Siebert saves on the line. On 18′ Thuram did not find the mirror with a header from a good position, while between 21′ and 22′ Pio Esposito and the same Thuram again committed the Giallorossi defense on the developments of two corners.

Francesco Lucivero

Before the closing of the opening fraction, there were an outside post hit by Pio Esposito at 36′ (providential deflection by Falcone) and a high shot by Frattesi from a good position. The resumption starts in the same groove as the first half and at 52′ there would also be Dimarco’s goal, cancelled, however, for offside after verification in the VAR Room. After many fruitless attempts, one of Chivu’s substitutions, the one that sees Mkhitaryan take over from Sucic, proves decisive at 75′: the Armenian collects the ball on the development of a corner and signs the 1-0 with a precise diagonal.

Lecce finally gives up its grip: Inter immediately comes close to doubling the score on 79′, with a double attempt by Dimarco first stopped by Falcone and then, on the line, by Tiago Gabriel, then realizes it on 82’82’, with Akanji who stands out on the cross from the Nerazzurri fullback’s crossbar and thus seals the 2-0. In the finale, Bastoni was cautioned: he was cautioned and will miss Inter-Genoa but may return for the derby.

There were no other emotions, Inter won and took another important step toward the title. However, the Nerazzurri are now called to a real tour de force ahead of the derby next March 8: after the Champions League return match with Bodo/Glimt, Chivu’s team will face Genoa in the championship on February 28 and Como in the Coppa Italia on March 3.