Inter Milan vs Lecce Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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Defending champions Internazionale began with a controversial and frustrating 2-2 draw in Genoa last weekend and they return to San Siro to face a Lecce side that will be looking to simply move into damage limitation mode after a poor start.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 24th August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
INTER MILAN PREVIEW: RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS
After winning their 20th Serie A title and, as a result, earning a second star upon their badge, Internazionale began the defence of the Scudetto with a highly entertaining game in Genoa. The Nerazzurri fell behind in the first-half when the son-in-law of the late Sinisa Mihaijlovic, Alessandro Vogliacco, opened the scoring in the 20th minute.
France international Marcus Thuram brought them level ten minutes later and then he completed a brace late on when he looked to have strayed offside but a tight VAR call awarded the goal. The drama didn’t end there, though, with Yann Bisseck giving away a penalty in stoppage-time, which was taken by Junior Messias, saved by Yann Sommer but then tucked away on the rebound by Junior Messias.
LECCE PREVIEW: SLOW START FOR LECCE
This season is expected to be a struggle for Lecce, despite the good work that Luca Gotti did when he was appointed towards the end of last season as he steered the Apulia-based club away from the bottom three and the relegation places.
Their 2024/25 campaign began by hosting the UEFA Europa League winners of last season Atalanta, who have plenty of transfer dealings to sort. However, as Gian Piero Gasperini once again evolves the Bergamasci, Atalanta ran riot down south with new signings Marco Brescianini and Mateo Retegui both scoring twice in a 4-0 rout.
INTER MILAN TEAM NEWS: INNOVATIVE INZAGHI
Simone Inzaghi is known for being quite pragmatic and only ever making like for like substitutions but he did get a little bit funky last weekend with Henrikh Mkhitaryan being replaced by Mehdi Taremi.
Inzaghi is expected to remain with his 3-5-2 system but he is still without a couple of players with key defender Stefan de Vrij still missing alongside Canada international Tajon Buchanan.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram
UNAVAILABLE: De Vrij (Injured), Buchanan (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LECCE TEAM NEWS: RETURNING DEFENDERS
In Lecce’s Coppa Italia first round encounter against Serie B side, Lecce stuck with a 4-2-3-1 system but managed to welcome back both Valentin Gendrey and Kialonda Gaspar.
Both players struggled in their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Atalanta but with only Mohamed Kaba absent for this weekend the expectation is that the visitors stick with an unchanged side.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Gendrey, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Tete Morente, Rafia, Dorgu; Krstovic
UNAVAILABLE: Kaba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
INTER MILAN VS LECCE PREDICTION
Simone Inzaghi and his champions were left immensely frustrated at the end of last week’s draw with Genoa but the Nerazzurri will believe they showed some positive signs, albeit nowhere near as efficient both in defence and attack as they have been in the last couple of seasons. Lecce, though, started with a hammering and will fear the worst as they head to San Siro.
INTER MILAN VS LECCE TIP: INTER TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
