Serie A, Inter-Lecce 2-0: Darmian and Calhanoglu decide

THE MATCH
Maximum output with minimum effort. After the bitter draw in Genoa, with a goal in each half, Inter closed the case of Lecce thanks to a performance with few concessions, but with a lot of concrete and stability. With the Nerazzurri traveling at least for a good part of the game, at the San Siro a header from Darmian and a penalty from the usual “sniper” Calhanoglu was enough to manage Gotti’s men and bring the Inzaghi gang back on the right paths. Two flashes that remove the shadow of Marassi and together with the three points that prove the law of the strongest.

Without Lautaro, at the Meazza Inzaghi put Taremi next to Thuram from the start and in the middle of the park it is up to the usual Barella, Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan with Darmian and Dimarco supporting the outside. After the Bergamo defeat, Gotti instead wants a 4-2-3-1 with Krstovic supported in midfield by Dorgu, Rafia and Banda. At a good pace at the start, Inter controlled the possession and played the match. Orderly in build-up, the Nerazzurri move well from the back, extending play with precision and pressing at the right times. With an impulse that after five minutes immediately pushes the game forward. Picked up by Dimarco’s cross, Taremi heads into the area and Darmian breaks the deadlock with a precise header that beats Falcone. A goal that breaks the balance, stretches the teams and lights up the game. With more space available, on the one hand Inter will attack high and attack the depth with many men, on the other hand Lecce will look for an overlap on the outside, which ‘ gaining ground and trying to provoke Krstovic. Taremi arrives late on a nice vertical from Barella, then Falcone and Baschirotto solve a dangerous situation and Sommer clears a poisonous cross from Pierret. With the advantage and tight when not in possession, Inzaghi’s team defends well in one-on-one situations, doubling the Giallorossi goalkeepers and restarting. Served by Darmian, Taremi fails to find the ball in an overhead half kick, then the Giallorossi defense clears well on a cross from Iran and at a slower pace the first half ends with the home team dominated.

The second half starts without substitutes and with Inter trying to increase the turnover to put more pressure on Lecce. Served in the area by Barella, Thuram clears with his left foot, then the Frenchman misses the target after Gaspar closes in on Taremi. Chances that don’t hit the big target, but force the Giallorossi to move back and stay away from Sommer. At a trot and without much aggression on the carriers, moreover, the game was played at a low pace and with little initiative in one-on-one situations, the hosts kept possession without difficulty. In search of energy and ideas, Gotti replaces Rafia and Banda with Pierotti and Tete Morente. But it was Inter who scored again with Calhanoglu from the spot after a foul by Gaspar on Thuram in the area. A double that cemented Nerazzurri’s possession and almost closed the game. After the goal, Inzaghi brought on Carlos Augusto, Dumfries, Frattesi and Arnautovic to replace Dimarco, Darmian, Barella and Thuram and the last twenty minutes were only good for the statistics and to see a final with all the hosts in the future. On one side Arnautovic puts his head up, on the other Sommer blocks a shot on Dorgu’s left foot from the edge of the box and then says no to Berisha, who came on instead Pierret.

REPORT CARDS
Darmian 6.5: he covers and pushes at the right times. Always ready to support the move and be ready for Dimarco cuts. He opens the match with his head, then continues to keep Gallo busy with his submissions
Thuram 6.5: in the first half he struggled to find the right atmosphere with Taremi close by and made a bit of a joke by playing in an over-influenced manner. In the second half he changes his attitude, misses a couple of chances, but still manages to be the main man by making his physicality count and winning the penalty for the second goal.
Term 6: he doesn’t have the physicality and ferocity of Lautaro, but up until the hour mark he is often at the center of the Nerazzurri’s offensive movement despite treading a bit on Thuram’s toes. He sparked Darmian’s goal with a header, then he didn’t find the right time to be dangerous a couple of times and as the minutes ticked away he fell
Crystal 5.5: he has to deal with Acerbi above all and it is difficult one-on-one. He tries to give Lecce depth by attacking space, but the balls just arrive slowly and the Nerazzurri defense is quick and effective in closing down
Day 5: Gotti sends him to the right to try to take advantage of his return to the left, but he almost doesn’t manage to get past Bastoni or make himself dangerous at most. Also uncertain in the supports
Gaspar 5: too aggressive in identifying in the area. In the second half he first took a risk on Taremi, then connected with Thuram and Inter doubled their lead from the spot

THE STORY
INTER-LECCE 2-0
Between (3-5-2): Summer 6,5; Pavard 6, Acerbi 6.5, Bastoni 6; Darmian 6.5 (27′ st Dumfries 6), Barella 6.5 (27′ st Frattesi 6), Calhanoglu 6.5 (37 ‘st Asllani sv), Mkhitaryan 6, Dimarco 6 (27’ st Carlos Augusto 6); Thuram 6.5 (31st Arnautovic 6), Taremi 6.
Disp.: Di Gennaro, Martinez, Bisseck, Fontanarosa, Zielinski, Correa. All.: Ferry 6
Lecce (4-2-3-1): Falcone 6; Gendrey 5.5, Gaspar 5, Baschirotto 6, Gallo 6; Ramadani 6, Pierret 6 (40′ st Berisha sv); Dorgu 5, Rafia 5.5 (18′ st Pierotti 5.5), Banda 5 (18′ st Tete Morente 5.5); Krstovic 5.5 (40 ‘st Coulibaly sv).
Disp.: Fruchtl, Samooja, Borbei, Pelmard, Mcjannet, Oudin, Helgason, Marchwinski, Burnete. All.: Take 5.5
Referee: By Marco
Signs: 5′ Darmian (I), 24′ st rig. Calhanoglu (I)
Ammonites: Gallo, Band (L)
Deleted: –

THE STATES
• 17th penalty out of 17 attempts in Serie A for Hakan Çalhanoglu. From the 2023/24 season, considering the five major European leagues, the Turkish midfielder is the player who scored the most times from 11 meters (11, to Cole Palmer’s nine).
• Hakan Çalhanoglu has scored all 17 penalties taken in Serie A, no one has recorded a streak of penalties converted in a row in Serie A since data has been available ( from 2005/06 – after Giampaolo Pazzini on 16, between 2012 and 2020 ).
• Inter fielded a starting line-up with an average age of 30 years and 343 days and no team has taken the field in a Serie A match with an ‘older’ starting XI since 13 May 2023 – indeed Inter, in the home 4-2 win against Sassuolo (31 years and 5 days).
• Starting from the 2020/21 season (last five competitions, including the current one), among Serie A defenders, Matteo Darmian is the only one – along with Cristiano Biraghi – who scored at least one goal in each competition.
• Matteo Darmian had not scored in Serie A since March 17, in the 1-1 home draw against Napoli. Today’s goal, after 4′ 46”, is the fastest goal scored by a defender in the top division.
• Today’s goal is Matteo Darmian’s second headed goal in Serie A; the first dating back to 15 May 2022 against Cagliari (interim win 3-1).
• Mehdi Taremi became the second Iranian player to register an assist in Serie A, after Rahman Rezaei (with Messina shirt, in a 2-2 draw against Siena on 13 February 2005).
• 250th appearance as a starter in Serie A for Nicolò Barella (between Inter and Cagliari). In addition, today is the 150th victory in the premier league for a midfielder.
• 100th Serie A appearance for Denzel Dumfries.