Inter Milan Defeats Lecce 2-0 and Strengthens Its Hold on the Serie A Top Spot

Inter Milan took a significant step towards winning the Italian championship by defeating US Lecce 2-0 on the difficult pitch of the Stadio Via del Mare. Although the match was balanced for a long time, the outcome was decided by goals in the final quarter of the game. Henrikh Mkhitaryan broke the deadlock in the 75th minute, and Manuel Akanji sealed the result seven minutes later. Both goals came from precise crosses by Federico Dimarco, who recorded two assists. This success is particularly important in the context of the team's morale following a recent Champions League defeat to Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Polish fans closely followed the performance of Piotr Zieliński, who played the full 90 minutes. The Polish national team player presented himself maturely, controlling the tempo of the game and participating in most of the league leader's offensive actions. Italian journalists emphasize that the 31-year-old midfielder is currently experiencing a "second youth," becoming a key piece in coach Chivu's puzzle. Young Polish talent Iwo Kaczmarski was also in the visitors' match squad, though he ultimately did not appear on the pitch. The rivalry between Inter and Lecce has a rich history, dating back to the Apulian club's debut in the top division in 1985. Although the Milanese team traditionally dominates these encounters, the Stadio Via del Mare has repeatedly been the site of sensational results, forcing the favorites to maintain the highest concentration.The match was not without controversy and non-sporting emotions. Alessandro Bastoni, Inter's defender, was mercilessly booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball. This was the fans' reaction to his alleged simulation in the previous match against Juventus. Coach Cristian Chivu publicly supported his player after the match, calling for calm and focus on the game. „Mancano ancora 36 punti, il resto sono statistiche e numeri. Ringrazio i ragazzi, è tutto merito loro, ho un gruppo di ragazzi fantastici.” (There are still 36 points to play for, the rest are statistics and numbers. I thank the lads, it's all their merit, I have a fantastic group of lads.) — Cristian Chivu The victory over Lecce puts Inter in a comfortable position for the coming weeks, especially given squad problems. The team had to manage without the injured Lautaro Martínez and the suspended Nicolò Barella. Despite these setbacks, the deep squad of the Nerazzurri proved its worth, allowing for optimism ahead of the upcoming European cup return leg.