Reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan aim to get off the mark on Saturday, when they welcome Lecce to San Siro.
Victims of a late Genoa equaliser on the first day of their title defence, Inter will be eager to avoid another setback this weekend.
Match preview
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Although Marcus Thuram bagged his first Serie A brace last week, it was still not enough to secure maximum points for Inter against a spirited Genoa side that fought back to secure a last-gasp draw in Liguria.
The French forward played out a game-long duel with Genoa goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and seemed to have had the last laugh when VAR intervened to award his 'offside' goal on 82 minutes and make it 2-1 to the Nerazzurri.
However, Yann Bisseck then erred by handling the ball in his own box, allowing ex-AC Milan man Junior Messias to punish his old foes from the penalty spot.
Between the end of last season - when they had already wrapped up the Scudetto - and the start of this, Inter have now drawn three straight matches, so coach Simone Inzaghi is sure to demand that normal service is resumed on Saturday evening.
Over the past 11 years, the Nerazzurri have never lost their opening home fixture, recording nine wins in the process - including victories in each of the last five seasons.
The weight of history is also on their side when it comes to a remarkable record against Lecce at San Siro: as hosts, Inter have won 17 times from 18 Serie A contests, keeping 12 clean sheets and conceding just six goals.
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With only one win to their name throughout that time, Lecce have never scored more than once away to Inter, and they now travel to Milan in search of their first league goal of the new season.
In fact, between the end of last term and the start of this, the Salentini have failed to score in four Serie A matches - their worst drought for over a year - and have won none of the last six.
Having previously progressed in the Coppa Italia, beating Mantova thanks to a late Nikola Krstovic strike, Luca Gotti's side were then swept aside by Atalanta BC on the opening matchday.
Two goals down at half time, they conceded twice more after the break, leaving home fans at Stadio Via del Mare concerned about the challenge ahead.
Ex-Spezia boss Gotti stepped in when Lecce were in trouble last season, ultimately steering them to safety and securing the job on a longer-term basis; however, he has been hit by a tough start to the 2024-25 fixture list.
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Team News
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Ex-Porto star Mehdi Taremi made his first league appearance for Inter as a substitute last week, and he should partner Marcus Thuram in attack as captain Lautaro Martinez misses out through injury.
Another summer signing, Piotr Zielinski, could also play a part in Saturday's game, although Stefan de Vrij (thigh) and Tajon Buchanan (leg) are still unavailable.
Elsewhere, Denzel Dumfries battles it out with Matteo Darmian for selection on the right flank, while Benjamin Pavard could replace Yann Bisseck in the Nerazzurri's back three.
Lecce expect to have an almost full squad for the trip north to Lombardy, with the exceptions being Joan Gonzalez and long-term absentee Mohamed Kaba.
Newcomers Kialonda Gaspar, Balthazar Pierret and Tete Morente all started last week and could retain their places, but Lassana Coulibaly and Lameck Banda head the queue of players vying for promotion from the bench.
Once again, last term's top scorer Nikola Kristovic will lead the Salentini's front line, while French full-back Valentin Gendrey remains at the club for now, despite receiving an offer from Hoffenheim.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Morente, Rafia, Dorgu; Krstovic
We say: Inter Milan 3-0 Lecce
Though they somehow lost twice to Serie B-bound Sassuolo in an otherwise unbeaten Serie A season, Inter very rarely slip up on home turf and should ruthlessly exploit Lecce's defensive deficiencies.
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Jonathan O'Shea
