Inter edge past Lecce to open six-point gap | OneFootball

In a tightly contested Serie A match, Internazionale secured a crucial 1-0 win against Lecce at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The sole goal came late in the game, with Francesco Pio Esposito proving to be the hero for the home side. This victory in the 16th fixture of the Serie A 2025/26 season further solidifies Inter's strong campaign.

Internazionale demonstrated their dominance throughout the match, maintaining 68% possession and unleashing 21 shots, 7 of which were on target. Their attacking prowess was evident, as they created numerous chances and kept the pressure on Lecce's defence. Despite the barrage of attacks, it took until the 78th minute for the deadlock to be broken.

The decisive moment came when Francesco Pio Esposito found the net with a precise left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area. The goal, his second in the competition, was a result of excellent team play and showcased Inter's attacking intent. This strike not only lifted the spirits of the home fans but also highlighted Esposito's critical role in the squad.

Lecce, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing in the match, managing only 32% possession and a mere 10 shots, with just one on target. Their expected goals tally of 0.49 reflected their limited offensive output, which was insufficient to challenge Inter's well-organized defence. The visitors will have to regroup and find ways to enhance their attacking strategies in upcoming matches.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

The match begins

15':

Missed opportunity! Piotr Zielinski of Inter Milan takes a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sails over the crossbar. The assist came from Ange-Yoan Bonny.

41':

Opportunity wasted. Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Inter Milan attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

51':

Missed opportunity. Andy Diouf of Inter Milan attempted a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area but failed to score. The assist came from Marcus Thuram.

51':

Missed opportunity. Andy Diouf from Inter Milan attempted a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area but failed to score. The assist came from Marcus Thuram.

61':

Opportunity wasted. Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Inter Milan attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went off target.

77':

Opportunity wasted. Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter Milan attempted a header from the center of the penalty area but failed to convert. The cross was delivered by Piotr Zielinski.

77':

Opportunity wasted! Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter Milan attempted a header from the center of the box but failed to find the target. The cross was provided by Piotr Zielinski.

Inter Milan takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Lecce. Francesco Pio Esposito finds the back of the net with a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area.Inter Milan takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Lecce. Francesco Pio Esposito scores for Inter Milan, firing a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the top left corner of the net.

78':

GOAL Internazionale: Francesco Esposito (Internazionale) scores!

Francesco Esposito scores goal number 2 in the competition (18 matches)