Serie A 2022-23: Inter Milan vs Lecce: Predicted Lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The Giallorossi go head-to-head with The Nerazzurri at San Siro in this thrilling weekend clash.

When Inter Milan and Lecce meet on the pitch, it's not just a game between two football teams. It's a clash of two distinct Italian footballing cultures.

On one hand, you have Inter Milan, one of the most successful clubs in Italian football history. Inter Milan, also known as "Nerazzurri" or "Inter," is a formidable force in Italian football with star players like Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, and Stefan de Vrij. On the other hand, you have Lecce, a club that has spent most of its history in the lower divisions of Italian football. With a modest budget and a roster of mostly unknown players, Lecce is often seen as the underdog in any match it plays.

However, when these two teams meet on the pitch, anything can happen. Inter Milan might have the star players and the history, but Lecce has the passion and the fighting spirit. Lecce players will fight for every ball and every inch of the pitch, and they will never give up. They know that a win against Inter Milan would be a historic moment for the club, and they will do everything they can to achieve it.

Kick-off:

Sunday, 5-03-2023; 05:00 pm (GMT)

Sunday, 5-03-2023; 10:30 pm (IST)

Inter Milan form (all competition): L-W-W-D-W

Lecce form (all competition): L-W-D-W-L

Player to watch

Inter Milan: Lautaro Martinez

Argentina's forward appears to have rediscovered their rhythm, which was absent earlier in the season and was evident in his team's results. His inconsistency was also due to his slow recuperation from the foot injury he sustained playing for Argentina in the World Cup but managed to play through with injections. After the World Cup in December, he has since recovered well and contributed with eight goals and an assist (for a total of 13 goals and three assists in the Serie A) this season.

Lecce : Gabriel Strefezza

Strefezza's playing style is characterized by his technical ability on the ball, quick feet, and excellent dribbling skills. He is also known for his versatility, as he can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. Despite his relatively small stature, he is a tenacious player who is not afraid to challenge the ball. At just 22 years of age, Strefezza has already shown a lot of promise in his career and has scored 7 goals for his team this season.

Match Facts

• Inter has only dropped one of their previous 13 Serie A games (W9 D3) against Lecce, falling 1-0 in January 2012 thanks to a strike from Guillermo Giacomazzi.
• For the first time in Serie A, Lecce has triumphed in their last two road games against opponents from Lombardy.
• With an average of 2.5 goals per game in their last eight Serie A home victories over Lecce, Inter (20 goals scored in that period).
• For the first time since 2016/17, Inter has dropped seven of its opening 24 Serie A contests. The Nerazzurri last had more losses in their opening 25 games in 2014/15.

Injury and Team News

Simone Inzaghi might open the game favouring Federico Dimarco or Hakan Calhanoglu, despite the fact that he thinks both Robin Gosens and Marcelo Brozovic will be fit for the weekend. It's imperative that Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez get another chance to rekindle their front-line goal-scoring partnership.

Injuries are a major concern for Lecce going into the weekend trip to San Siro. Lameck Banda and Pongracic are still out.

Head-to-head record

Matches – 23

Inter Milan – 15

Lecce – 4

Draws – 4

Predicted Lineups

Inter Milan predicted lineup (3-5-2): 

Onana; Škriniar, Acerbi, de Vrij; Darmian, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Lukaku, Martinez

Lecce predicted lineup (4-3-3): 

Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Gallo; Blin, Hjulmand, Gonzalez; Strefezza, Colombo, Banda

Match Prediction

There is more going on than just sports when Inter Milan and Lecce face off. Two distinct footballing cultures, two different mindsets, and two different sets of goals are at war. Although Inter Milan will start as the favourite, Lecce will have the spirit and tenacity to pull off a shocker. The best of Italian football will be on display in this event, which will be viewed by millions of football enthusiasts worldwide. Inter will look forward to an easy win and maintain their 2nd spot in the league.  

Prediction: Inter Milan 3 - 1 Lecce

Telecast

India – Voot, Jio CinemaUK – Eurosport app, beIN SportsUSA – fuboTV, Fox SportsNigeria – DAZN