Inter open Serie A title defence with 4-1 win against Monza at San Siro

Opening round at San Siro

Reigning Serie A champions Inter opened their 2026/2027 league campaign with a 4-1 victory over newly promoted Monza on Saturday evening. Cristian Chivu's team established an early lead in the sixth minute when midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu drove a right-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area following an assist from Andy Diouf, who started at right wing-back. The strike stood after a video assistant referee check concerning Yann Aurel Bisseck in an offside position, with television analyst Luca Marelli noting that goalkeeper Semuel Pizzignacco maintained clear visual contact with the ball. Monza answered in the 29th minute when Portuguese forward Varela slipped past Manuel Akanji and beat Josep Martinez with a diagonal strike on his first career Serie A shot, following his two-goal performance in the Coppa Italia days earlier.

Decisive second-half surge

The match remained level at 1-1 at half-time before Inter decided the contest with three goals inside the first eighteen minutes of the second half. Piotr Zielinski restored the hosts' lead in the 48th minute, capitalizing on an incomplete clearance from Pizzignacco after a cross by Federico Dimarco. In the 55th minute, Diouf registered his second assist by setting up Francesco Pio Esposito, who converted with a backheel flick into the Monza net. Bisseck concluded the scoring in the 63rd minute with a left-footed strike following a run through the Monza penalty area. The victory followed Chivu's opening-day 5-0 win over Torino from the previous season.

Marotta addresses Barcelona interest

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez started the contest on his 29th birthday after completing twelve days of pre-season training, initiating the sequence for Calhanoglu's opener before being replaced early in the second half. Ahead of the fixture, Inter president Giuseppe Marotta dismissed inquiries regarding Barcelona's contact with the Argentine forward's agent.

He is our captain and represents the current history of Inter. The conditions for him to leave Inter do not exist, we do not want to give him up in any way and for anything. It should not even be talked about.

Inter introduced defender John Stones for his debut in the closing stages, sharing an embrace with Chivu on the touchline while fellow English arrivals Djed Spence and Curtis Jones observed from the stands. Goalkeeper Filip Stankovic also made his debut after being re-signed from Club Brugge following his time in Inter's academy. Ivan Juric's Monza featured young midfielder Mout as the visitors managed squad absences and an unsettled transfer window.

Como draw at Udinese on opening day

In the day's other Serie A opener, Cesc Fabregas's Como began their league season with a 1-1 draw against Udinese in Udine. Udinese took the lead in the 29th minute through defender Hassane Kamara. Como responded nine minutes into the second half when Anastasios Douvikas converted from close range in the 54th minute to equalize. Como came within inches of a late win when Ramon struck the crossbar with thirty seconds remaining before the final whistle.