Five-star Inter performance make light working of Lecce

Inter Milan crushed Lecce in their Serie A clash with a top performance that put them in cruise control of the affair throughout the game.

The Serie A champions needed six minutes to open the goals account through Davide Fratessi. Marcus Thuram intercepted a sluggish pass from Guilbert, who tried to knock it back to Baschirotto, and the Frenchman dribbled into the six-yard box and flicked it across for the simple Frattesi tap-in.

Inter almost made it two three minutes later, but Stefan De Vrij missed the cross, and Darmian put it out for a Lecce corner.

The Dutchman got into the referee’s book with a professional foul from Lecce’s counterattack move.

Dumfries got down the right and rolled across for Thuram, but Pierotti made a decisive sliding interception, leading to a counter as De Vrij was booked for a foul on Krstovic.

Inter thought they finally got the second, only for it to be chalked off because Carlos Augusto was a little bit offside, having started the run too soon before the Lautaro Martinez through ball.

Inter had the ball in the net again a minute later but was ruled out again for offside. Thuram received a through ball, springing the offside trap, and he generously rolled it across for Frattesi to sweep in from 10 yards undisturbed. But the goal didn’t stand for another offside caused by the French striker.

Lecce’s Dorgu almost restored parity for the hosts after twists and turns, but his angled drive flashed across the face of the goal.

Inter eventually doubled their lead through skipper Lautaro Martinez. Baschirotto was robbed again in the final third by the skipper, who cut inside and hit a left-foot screamer into the near top corner from just inside the box.

Lecce returned to the second half with a great game that almost gave them a lifeline, but Inter added the third against the run of play. Martinez ran onto the ball over the top, heading towards the corner flag, using this to drag defenders away. His back-heel flick released Dumfries to go the other way and bend a finish into the far bottom corner.

Inter striker, Taremi made it four from the spot after Fratessi was fouled in the box by Falconer. The Iranian striker scored his first  Serie A goal as he calmly swept in with the inside of the right boot into the near bottom corner.