Inter scores poker in Lecce and keeps pace with Napoli

Lecce, January 26, 2025 – There had to be an answer and there was an answer. Inter send a signal to the Napoli and wins with authority and strength in Lecce, scoring a poker of great quality. Dragged by a Lautaro extra luxury version, not only the goal but also valuable plays, the Nerazzurri outclass the Giallorossi with two goals in the first half, Fraternity e Martinez, then rounded off in the recovery from Dumfries, freed by a great backheel from the captain, and Taremis, his first goal in Serie A from a penalty. No particular problems for Inter who imposed their game and their quality, leaving no escape for a team evidently in the grip of a defensive crisis, also considering the goleada suffered in Cagliari: Giampaolo will have to think about it. Inzaghi therefore stays in the wake of Conte, who has the advantage of having a game a week while the Nerazzurri will play in the cup on Wednesday with Monaco (a point will be enough to reach the round of 16). The only hitch is a blow to the knee for Barella that has the Nerazzurri fans in suspense.

Lautaro phenomenal, Frattesi goal

Inzaghi does not derogate from Lautaro and Thuram up front, but gives Dimarco a rest on the wing (Augusto plays). Giampaolo with the trident Pierotti, Krstovic and Morente. Inter knows they have to respond to Napoli and tries to start strong, with pressing and a high center of gravity, even at the cost of giving the home team some space on the counterattack. It doesn't take much for the Nerazzurri to unlock the match. Thuram steals the ball on the edge of the area, intoxicates half the defense with feints and assists the insertion of Fraternity who wets the return among the starters with the goal: 0-1 in the 6th minute. Lecce tries to react and does so with courage, trying to pour forward to put a pebble in the Nerazzurri's gears, but in doing so they open themselves up to Inter's counterattacks, especially with the unleashed Thuram and Dumfries, who have the engine to launch themselves into open play. In the 20th minute the Nerazzurri have the chance to double their lead on a furious scramble in the area and a rebound that frees up Thuram in front of goal: incredibly wide shot from two steps away. The guests have taken control of the match and give the impression that they can break through at the slightest acceleration against a Lecce that is imprecise in its preventive and marking. Inter breaks through with pleasure and scores two goals in a minute, first with Augusto freed by Lautaro, then with Frattesi on a cross from Thuram, but in both cases he is offside and so Giampaolo can breathe a sigh of relief when he asks his players to use their heads. The first chance for the Salento team comes only in the 29th minute with a diagonal from Dorgu that goes wide with Summer in control, in a phase of the match in which the Giallorossi are trying to stick their heads out. It's a flash in the pan, because the form of Lautaro lives a moment of great peak and his serpentine, with a left foot under the crossbar, gives the 0-2. This time everything is regular and it is 112 in Serie A, as well as seventh scorer ever in the history of Inter. At the end of the half, again because of a possessed Lautaro, Inter comes close to the third, but the cross from Dumfries is intercepted at the most beautiful moment by Baschirotto, who avoids worse trouble.

Ten o'clock heel

Giampaolo has to change something and he does it at half time with Ramadan in place of Coulibaly in midfield, while Inzaghi responds by removing the cautioned De Vrij to make room for Bisseck. Lecce starts strong, trying to occupy the Inter half of the pitch and Krstovic has the first chance with his head: the ball goes high. The Nerazzurri leave the possession to the Salentini with the intention of leaving them exposed and then stinging on the counterattack, but the attitude of the Giallorossi is different compared to the bad first half. At 55' Kristovic tries a right-footed shot from the edge and forces Sommer to make his first save of the match, then on the following corner Pierotti wastes from the center of the area. Inter in difficulty, but it lasts only ten minutes. Lautaro, the best on the pitch, unleashes a precious backheel for Dumfries, who confirms the magic moment and places the winning left-footed shot in the 57th minute: 0-3 and the match is over. A flurry of substitutions for Inzaghi who inserts Taremis e Stretcher to give Lautaro and Mkhitaryan a break. The hosts go out of the game and in the 60th minute they also concede a penalty on Frattesi's insertion with Falcone who imprudently comes out late. There is no doubt. From the spot it goes Taremis who scores his first goal in Serie A. Poker served. Inzaghi can handle it and immediately takes off Dumfries, who is on a yellow card, to make room for Buchanan. There is no risk in view of the Derby. The game is over, the result is frozen and the three points for Inter, useful for keeping Napoli on the trail, are now certified. The end is basketball garbage time, even if Lecce has a chance with Pierotti but Bisseck is good at deflecting the shot in front of Sommer. A bit of Salento pride comes out with a torpedo of Ramadan with Sommer flying in a plastic dive. The anxiety arrives instead with ten minutes to go when Stretcher he collapses to the ground due to a strong blow to the knee, but after minutes of fear with treatment on the sidelines the midfielder returns to play making everyone breathe a sigh of relief. A serious injury a week before the derby would have been a disaster. The last minutes pass by with Inter putting the game to sleep and Lecce having no more time to bite. Inzaghi keeps the trail of Tale and the Scudetto duel is more heated than ever.