Inter Milan strengthened their grip on the Serie A title race after grinding out a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Lecce at the San Siro. The win extends Inter’s lead at the top of the table to six points, while Lecce’s struggles deepen as they remain just three points above the relegation zone following a third straight defeat.
For Kenyan football fans following Serie A closely, this was another reminder of why Inter remain favourites for the Scudetto this season—efficient, patient, and ruthless when it matters most.
First-Half Control, No Breakthrough
Inter boss Cristian Chivu rotated his squad, handing a start to Ange-Yoan Bonny, who wasted no time making an impression. Inside six minutes, Bonny danced through the Lecce defence before forcing a sharp save from Wladimiro Falcone.
The pressure kept building. Bonny turned provider soon after, laying the ball off for Piotr Zieliński, whose clean strike narrowly missed the target. Inter thought they had a penalty midway through the half after Bonny went down under pressure, but a lengthy VAR check overturned the decision.
Further chances followed as Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired just wide from the edge of the box. Despite Inter’s dominance, Lecce survived until halftime, with their only real opening coming late on when Riccardo Sottil volleyed just wide after a quick counter.
Second-Half Pressure Pays Off
The second half followed a similar pattern. Inter camped in Lecce’s half, but Falcone continued to frustrate the hosts, producing an excellent save to deny Nicolò Barella from close range. Moments later, Barella turned creator, setting up Andy Diouf, whose effort was comfortably handled.
Lecce defended bravely, but fortune also smiled on them when Pio Esposito saw a header deflected wide from a corner. With time ticking, Chivu introduced Serie A’s top scorer Lautaro MartÃnez to add cutting edge.
Ironically, Lecce nearly stunned the San Siro moments later when Jamil Siebert forced a superb reflex save from Yann Sommer.
Esposito Delivers the Decisive Moment
Inter finally found their breakthrough 12 minutes from time. Falcone parried MartÃnez’s powerful shot, and Pio Esposito reacted quickest to turn in the rebound. The youngster nearly doubled his tally moments later, curling an effort just wide, but one goal proved enough.
The final whistle confirmed Inter’s 12th win in 14 league matches, underlining their consistency at the top. For Lecce and coach Eusebio Di Francesco, the lack of goals remains a major concern—they are still the lowest scorers in Serie A.
What This Means for the Title Race
Inter’s ability to win tight matches like this is exactly what champions do. With a six-point cushion and momentum firmly on their side, the Nerazzurri are setting the pace in Italy. Lecce, meanwhile, face a tense battle to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap.
For Kenyan fans who enjoy European football betting, matches like these show why Inter are a reliable pick, especially in low-scoring, tactical encounters.
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