Inter capitalised on a costly slip from Napoli to strengthen their grip on the Serie A title race, edging past Lecce 1–0 in a rescheduled Matchday 16 fixture at San Siro.

The first half offered little in the way of clear-cut chances, with both sides cancelling each other out. The visitors came closest before the break, when Ange-Yoan Bonny failed to convert Lecce’s best opportunity, letting Inter off the hook.

After the interval, head coach Cristian Chivu turned to his bench, introducing Lautaro Martínez in search of greater attacking urgency. Lecce remained dangerous on the counter, threatening through Siebert, but the breakthrough continued to elude the Nerazzurri.

The decisive twist arrived late on, courtesy of another inspired substitution. Pio Esposito, thrown into the action in the closing stages, made an instant impact — guiding home a clinical finish to send the home crowd into celebration and secure three priceless points.

The victory allows Inter to move six points clear of both Napoli and AC Milan, underlining their authority at the summit of Serie A.

2025-26, Italy - Serie A

Inter - Lecce 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Pio Esposito, 78 (1:0)

Inter: Sommer; Acerbi; Akanji; Carlos Augusto; Bastoni; Mkhitaryan (Martínez L., 72); Zielinski P.; Barella (Frattesi, 57); Thuram M.; Bonny (Pio Esposito, 56); Diouf A. (Luis Henrique T.L., 57)
Substitution: Pio Esposito (from 56); Frattesi (from 57); Luis Henrique T.L. (from 57); Martínez L. (from 72)
Bench: Calligaris; de Vrij; Bisseck; Dimarco; Darmian; Cocchi; Sucic P.; Bovo L.
Yellow Cards: Thuram M. 17

Lecce: Falcone; Siebert; Veiga; Tiago Gabriel; Gandelman (Kaba M., 69); Gallo A.; Maleh; Štulić; Sottil (Tete Morente, 68); Coulibaly L.; Pierotti
Substitution: Tete Morente (from 68); Kaba M. (from 69)
Bench: Früchtl; Samooja; Ndaba; Perez Mat.; Jean; Kouassi C-O; Gorter; Sala Alex; Helgason; N'Dri; Marchwinski
Yellow Cards: Veiga 63