MILAN - Yes. The team started the season in the right way. Inter kicked off with a great and well-deserved 4-0 win over Lecce. Over 64,000 were in attendance to support and applaud the Nerazzurri who were able to win thanks to two goals that came in four minutes between the 21st and 24th minutes from Brozovic and Sensi before Lukaku and Candreva extended the lead after the break.
Inter started the match in the right way, effectively dealing with Liverani’s Lecce side as the newly-promoted team came to play attacking and lively football. Four minutes in, the Nerazzurri had their first chance. Candreva played it to Vecino, Lukaku shielded the ball for Lautaro who played it to Sensi and his shot was deflected behind for a corner. In the 14th minute, Lecce had their first chance. The dangerous Falco played in Lapadula and Handanovic came off his line to challenge him but he was able to get a lobbed shot away which Skriniar dealt with on the line. Despite that, the Nerazzurri kept the pressure up. In the 17th minute, Lautaro headed over from a great position. Four minutes later, Inter took the lead. Candreva played it to Asamoah who rolled the ball to Brozovic. The Croatian stepped forward and let fly with an unstoppable strike into the top corner beyond Gabriel.
Three minutes later, it was 2-0 thanks to Sensi’s goal on his debut. The Italian midfielder weaved his way into the area before firing low and hard across goal into the far corner. Inter kept attacking after extending the lead. Lukaku set up Brozovic on the break before Lautaro fired wide. Asamoah also kept Gabriel busy with the Lecce goalkeeper doing well to turn a powerful left-foot effort behind.
After coming out for the second half 2-0 down, Lecce looked to attack early in the second half. Falco was denied by D’Ambrosio before Calderoni tried his luck from distance. In the 59th minute, Romelu Lukaku netted his first Inter goal. Gabriel failed to collect a Lautaro shot from outside the box and the Belgian pounced to dispatch the rebound. Following on from Sensi, it was another debut goal. At 3-0, the Nerazzurri kept the pressure on. Brozovic went close to scoring his second with a placed effort that went just wide while Lautaro forced a stop from Gabriel after shooting from some way out. After Farias was shown a straight red card, Politano found the net but it was disallowed for a Lukaku offside. It was then Candreva’s turn in the 87th minute as he picked out the top corner from 35 metres out with a truly stunning effort.
It was the greatest way to wrap up a dominant display as the league campaign began in style. Let’s keep it up, #ForzaInter!
INTER 4-0 LECCE
INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar; 87 Candreva, 8 Vecino (23 Barella 66'), 77 Brozovic, 12 Sensi (5 Gagliardini 72'), 18 Asamoah; 10 Lautaro Martinez (16 Politano 78'), 9 Lukaku.
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 11 Dimarco, 13 Ranocchia, 29 Dalbert, 95 Bastoni, 19 Lazaro, 20 Borja Valero, 30 Esposito.
Coach: Antonio Conte
LECCE (4-3-1-2): 21 Gabriel; 29 Rispoli, 13 Rossettini, 5 Lucioni, 27 Calderoni; 4 Petriccione, 77 Tachtsidis, 37 Majer; 10 Falco; 19 La Mantia (17 Farias 61'), 9 Lapadula.
Substitutes: 22 Vigorito, 95 Bleve, 2 Riccardi, 3 Vera, 6 Benzar, 7 Haye, 8 Mancosu, 11 Shakov, 20 Dubickas, 23 Tabanelli, 39 Dell'Orco.
Coach: Fabio Liverani
Goals:21' Brozovic, 24' Sensi, 60' Lukaku, 87' Candreva
Bookings: Petriccione (L), Lautaro Martinez (I), Lapadula (L)
Red card: Farias (L) 76'
Referee: La Penna
Assistants: Giallatini, Prenna
Fourth official: Volpi
Var and Assistant Var: Aureliano, Fiorito
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