Serie A | Lecce 0-2 Inter: Mkhitaryan and Akanji keep leaders flying | OneFootball

It took until the 75th minute to break on-form Lecce down, but Inter took all three points thanks to Federico Dimarco setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji goals.

The Nerazzurri were still shaken by their Champions League play-off 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt, especially as they also lost Lautaro Martinez for a month to a soleus strain during that match in Norway. Denzel Dumfries was still out, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella suspended, so Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram stepped in. Lecce turned a corner with back-to-back wins over Udinese and Cagliari, and while Francesco Camarda and Medon Berisha were injured, Lameck Banda returned from his ban for a spot on the bench.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Alessandro Bastoni was loudly jeered by the crowd at every touch following his self-confessed simulation to get Pierre Kalulu sent off for Juventus last week.

In the opening 35 seconds, Kialonda Gaspar at full stretch made a decisive block on Marcus Thuram’s angled drive, injuring himself in the process and forcing a substitution within four minutes.

Substitute Jamil Siebert made an immediate impact, as he performed the goal-line clearance on a Luis Henrique volley from 12 yards to deny Inter the opener on 10 minutes.

Marcus Thuram nodded a Federico Dimarco free kick off target, while Francesco Pio Esposito’s strike was deflected over by Ylber Ramadani.

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

The Italian striker also forced Wladimiro Falcone into an acrobatic one-handed save, while Ramadani fired over after shrugging off a weak Petar Sucic tackle inside the area.

Thuram stood up the ball at the by-line for Esposito’s header from a tricky angle, denied again by Falcone at the near post, while Frattesi fired over from a slightly mis-placed Luis Henrique assist.

Inter stepped up a gear after the restart and there was nobody at the back post to meet the flicked Frattesi header on a corner, then Dimarco had the ball in the net on 51 minutes from a Thuram pull-back, but the Frenchman’s shoulder was offside in the build-up.

VAR shows Marcus Thuram’s offside position to disallow Federico Dimarco’s goal for Inter against Lecce (Lega Serie A)

Lecce tried to go on the counter, but Banda slipped as he cut inside and got the shot away from the edge of the penalty area, as Frattesi nodded Bastoni’s cross wide of the near post.

Bastoni read the situation well to prevent Santiago Pierotti cutting inside in the area, but Inter immediately went on the counter and scored from the resulting corner.

Dimarco’s set play was flicked on and bounced in front of substitute Mkhitaryan, who swept in the half-volley from 14 yards with the right foot, sending it through a crowd.

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Henrickh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale celebrates after scorign his team’s opening goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

It really should’ve been 2-0 when Dimarco started the move from his own half and combined with Mkhitaryan, but the first shot was parried by Falcone’s foot, then the second attempt cleared off the line by Tiago Gabriel.

Inter did double their advantage from another Dimarco corner, this one nodded in by a towering Manuel Akanji header into the far top corner.

Bastoni received a yellow card and will be suspended against Genoa, but safe for the Derby della Madonnina, and immediately afterwards was replaced by Carlos Augusto to complete Inter’s ninth consecutive Serie A away victory.

Mkhitaryan 75 (I), Akanji 82 (I)