Inter Milan defeats Lecce and extends lead to ten points in the table

Cristian Chivu's men arrived at the Stadio Via del Mare aiming to bounce back from a painful defeat to Bodo/Glimt in European competition. However, the first half against Lecce was evenly matched and goalless, though both sides had their chances. The situation changed in the second half when the Milanese side upped the tempo, with substitutes and Federico Dimarco's precise crosses playing a key role. It was from his deliveries that both goals came – first Mkhitaryan scored in the 75th minute, and eight minutes later Akanji sealed the result. The match was played in an atmosphere of hostility towards Alessandro Bastoni. The Italian international was mercilessly booed by the local fans every time he touched the ball. This was a reaction to the defender's controversial simulation in the previous round against Juventus, which led to the unjust sending-off of Pierre Kalulu. Despite immense pressure from the stands, Inter's defense kept a clean sheet, and Piotr Zieliński put in a solid performance in midfield, earning high marks in the Italian media. Founded in 1908, Inter Milan is one of the most decorated clubs in football history, with 20 Italian championship titles. The competition in Serie A has been considered one of the most prestigious in Europe since the 1990s, and the fight for the „Scudetto” (the small shield symbolizing the championship) is a central point of the sporting calendar on the Italian Peninsula. Inter's victory carries double weight due to the sensation that occurred in Turin. Juventus lost 0-2 at home to the newly-promoted side Como, which practically eliminates the „Old Lady” from the real fight for first place. Inter currently leads the table with 64 points, holding a ten-point advantage over AC Milan, who will play their match against Parma on Sunday. If the leader maintains this consistency, the championship issue could be decided well before the end of the season. <citat autor=