Lecce Vs Inter: Preview, defensive shake-up after UCL setback and how late strikes sealed the trip to Via del Mare
In the buildup to lecce vs inter, Inter arrived after a damaging Champions League defeat and made clear changes to their defensive setup while juggling injuries and suspensions ahead of the Serie A visit to Stadio del Mare.
Lecce Vs Inter: Team news and defensive rotation
The head coach refreshed his backline following the midweek European night, slotting Stefan de Vrij into a three-man defence alongside Bisseck and Bastoni. The changes were framed as a response to the challenging trip north and a desire to manage the squad after the recent continental setback.
Absences disrupted the matchday picture: two midfielders served suspensions, and several regulars remained sidelined through injury. Inter also faced the loss of their captain up front with a calf issue, prompting a change in the attacking selection where either Marcus Thuram or Ange-Yoan Bonny could start alongside Francesco Pio Esposito.
Late goals decide the game and extend Inter’s domestic momentum
The narrative around lecce vs inter was settled late as substitutes made the decisive impact. Two second-half substitute finishes — one from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and a later header from Manuel Akanji — produced a 2-0 victory at the del Mare.
- Mkhitaryan opened the scoring in the 75th minute with a composed finish from a half-cleared corner.
- Akanji sealed the win seven minutes later, rising to flick in a header off the same set-piece source.
- A potential opener earlier in the second half was ruled out after a VAR review; an effort that appeared to have crossed the line was chalked off for offside against the Frenchman involved in the move.
Inter finished the match statistically on top, producing roughly 2. 15 expected goals (xG) to Lecce's 0. 12 xG. The victory extended a long unbeaten domestic run and increased Inter's cushion at the top of the table.
Context, implications and what to watch next
Lecce had shown signs of revival with successive league wins that helped pull them clear of the drop zone, but the visitors’ depth and late-game firepower proved decisive. Inter’s defensive rotation and use of substitutes paid off in a tight game where a late set-piece sequence unlocked the contest.
For Inter, the match reinforced current standing at the summit and added to a sequence of impressive away results, including an extended run of clean sheets on the road. The coaching staff now face a balancing act between maintaining domestic momentum and addressing the consequences of the recent Champions League defeat, with squad management likely to remain a focal point in the immediate weeks ahead.
Match specifics and squad decisions remain subject to further updates and the evolving fixture list; the picture painted here reflects the latest match events and the immediate managerial responses to both injury and suspension issues.
