Official Starting Lineups – Lecce Vs Inter Milan: Pio Esposito & Thuram Fill Lautaro’s Boots | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu has named his Inter Milan side for tonight’s Serie A clash at Lecce, with Davide Frattesi returning to the starting lineup after illness and Marcus Thuram partnering Francesco Pio Esposito up front in the absence of injured captain Lautaro Martinez.

The official lineups for tonight’s Serie A Match, which kicks off at 18:00 CET in Salento, have been published.

Inter currently sit seven points clear of second-placed rivals AC Milan and will look to extend their lead at the top of Serie A this weekend.

However, they will have to push on without their captain and star player, with Lautaro set to miss around a month of football.

Lecce Vs Inter Milan – Frattesi Back In Inter Midfield

CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Davide Frattesi of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giovanni Zini on February 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Frattesi missed the Champions League defeat in Bodo due to gastroenteritis and a fever but has recovered in time to start alongside Zielinski and Sucic in a reshuffled midfield.

With Barella and Calhanoglu both suspended, Zielinski takes on the crucial deep-lying playmaker role.

The Polish international is the only recognised regista available to Chivu tonight and will be key to Inter’s build-up play.

Lecce Vs Inter Milan – Thuram & Esposito Fill Lautaro’s Boots

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 23: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Pisa SC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 23, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The major talking point is up front, where Thuram and Pio Esposito lead the line together.

Lautaro faces around four weeks out with a soleus muscle complaint.

Indeed, the young Italian gets another opportunity to prove he can carry the burden of the Nerazzurri attack.

Thuram, meanwhile, returns to the starting XI after being rested in Norway.

Bisseck, Dimarco and Luis Henrique also return from the off, with Bisseck and Stefan de Vrij completing the back three alongside Bastoni.

Lecce Vs Inter Milan – Official Starting Lineups – Frattesi & Thuram Start

PARMA, ITALY – JANUARY 07: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on January 07, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

LECCE (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly; Pierotti, Gandelman, Sottil; Cheddira. Bench: Früchtl, Samooja, Jean, Siebert, Ndaba, Perez, Fofana, Helgason, Marchwinski, Ngom, Sala, N’Dri, Stulic. Coach: Di Francesco. Suspended: none. Unavailable: Berisha, Camarda.

INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, de Vrji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Esposito, Thuram. Bench: Martinez, Di Gennaro, Acerbi, Akanji, Darmian, Cocchi, Kaczmarski, Mkhitaryan, Diouf, Topalovic, Bonny. Coach: Chivu. Suspended: Barella (1), Calhanoglu (1). Unavailable: Dumfries, Lautaro, Calhanoglu.