Inter Milan took a major step towards the championship title by defeating US Lecce 2:0 away from home. Although the Serie A leader struggled for a long time to break down the hosts' defense, goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji in the final quarter-hour secured a valuable victory. Cristian Chivu's team took advantage of Juventus's stumble, who unexpectedly lost at home to Como, and extended their lead over second-placed AC Milan to ten points.

Decisive impact from the bench

Goals scored by Mkhitaryan and Akanji late in the match confirmed the squad's depth and the effectiveness of coach Chivu's substitutions.

Milan's pursuit under pressure

Inter's lead has increased to 10 points, putting Milan in a difficult situation ahead of Sunday's match against Parma.

Sensational Juventus defeat

The Turin side's loss to Como (0:2) is the biggest surprise of the matchday, strengthening the position of the Milan-based leaders.

Hostile reception for Bastoni

Inter's defender was booed throughout the match in retaliation for a controversial incident from the previous week.

Cristian Chivu's Cristian Chivu squad arrived at 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 produced no goals, though both sides had their chances. The situation changed in the second half when the Milanese side raised the tempo, with substitutes and Federico Dimarco's precise crosses playing a key role. It was from his deliveries that both goals came - first Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in the 75th minute, and eight minutes later Manuel Akanji sealed the result. The match took place in an atmosphere of hostility towards Alessandro Bastoni. The Italian national team player 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 exclusion 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 ratings in the Italian media. Founded in 1908, Inter Milan is one of the most decorated clubs in football history, having won 20 Italian league titles. The competition in Serie A has been considered one of the most prestigious in Europe since the 1990s, and the battle for the "Scudetto" (the small shield symbolizing the championship) is a central point of the sporting calendar on the Apennine Peninsula. Inter's victory carries double weight due to the upset that occurred in Turin. Juventus lost at home to the newly-promoted side from Como 0:2, which practically eliminates the "Old Lady" from the realistic 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. However, it should be noted that the leader has played one more match than their local rival. If the leader maintains such consistency, the championship issue could be decided well before the end of the season. Mancano ancora 36 punti, il resto sono statistiche e numeri. Ringrazio i ragazzi, è tutto merito loro, ho un gruppo di ragazzi fantastici che mettono tutto con mente, fisico e tecnica.

Mentioned People

  • Piotr Zieliński — Polish midfielder for Inter, who played the entire match and received high ratings from the media.
  • Cristian Chivu — Inter Milan manager, who led the team to another league victory.
  • Alessandro Bastoni — Inter defender booed by Lecce fans for a previous simulation.