Inter Milan began their Serie A title defense with a 2-0 victory over Lecce at the San Siro on Saturday, marking a solid start to their campaign. Matteo Darmian scored the opener with a header in the fifth minute, and Hakan Calhanoglu sealed the win with a penalty in the 70th minute, sending the majority of the approximately 70,000 fans home satisfied. The win places Inter alongside three other teams, including Parma and Genoa, who are all tied on four points after the first two matches of the season.
Darmian expressed satisfaction with the result, acknowledging the challenge of maintaining a top position. "Winning is hard but staying up there is even harder," he told Sky Sport. The internal competition within the squad, he noted, is a key factor in their success, as it drives the team to perform consistently.
Despite their victory, Inter were not at their most dynamic against Lecce, who remain without points, having struggled in their opening fixtures against both the champions and Atalanta. Inter played without their injured captain and star striker Lautaro Martinez, with Mehdi Taremi making his first start since joining from Porto. Taremi played a role in Darmian's goal by touching the cross that led to the header, and also had a penalty appeal turned down after a clash in the box.
The penalty opportunity for Calhanoglu came after Marcus Thuram was fouled by Kialonda Gaspar while challenging for a cross. Calhanoglu's confident finish ensured the three points for Inter. The win highlighted both the team's resilience and their ability to secure results even without their key players.
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