Inter 1-0 Lecce Player Ratings: Pio Esposito Strikes Winner in Tight Serie A Contest

Inter edged past Lecce with a narrow 1–0 win in a tense Serie A match.

Inter controlled possession from the start. Lecce stayed compact and defended well. Clear chances were hard to find.

The first half was tight and cautious. Inter looked frustrated and lacked sharpness in attack. Lecce’s goalkeeper made several important saves.

For long periods, the match appeared to be heading towards a draw. Lecce remained disciplined and hard to break down.

The turning point came late in the game. Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito scored in the 78th minute. He finished calmly to give Inter the lead.

Inter held on until the final whistle. Although it was not their best performance, it was an important win. The three points could prove crucial in the title race. Here are Sportsdunia's Inter vs Lecce player ratings from the Serie A fixture.

Key Takeaways:

1. Inter dominated possession but struggled to break down Lecce’s defence.
2. Lecce’s goalkeeper made several key saves to keep the score level.
3. Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito scored the winning goal in the 78th minute.

Inter Player Ratings vs Lecce

Check out Inter player ratings from the Inter Milan vs Lecce FC game:

Goalkeeper

Yann Sommer - 6.5: Had a very quiet evening between the sticks, which is a testament to his defence. He only had one save to make all game, which he dealt with comfortably. Commanded his area well and his distribution was solid, completing 83% of his passes. A straightforward and untroubled performance for the Swiss international.

Defenders

Francesco Acerbi - 7.5: A rock at the back for Inter. He was imperious, winning all of his duels and making a staggering seven clearances. His passing was near-perfect with a 98% accuracy, providing a calm and composed presence. He read the game beautifully and snuffed out several Lecce attacks before they could even begin. A commanding display.

Manuel Akanji - 7.0: A solid partner to Acerbi in the backline. He contributed with three crucial blocked shots and was tidy in possession. From our perspective, he handled Lecce’s forwards with ease for the most part. His positioning was intelligent, and he provided good cover. A reliable and steady performance.

Alessandro Bastoni - 8.0: What a performance. Not just a defender, but a creative force. He was a constant threat down the left, creating four chances and whipping in ten crosses. Defensively he was just as impressive, winning most of his duels and making six clearances. A complete and all-action display from the Italian defender.

Midfielders

Piotr Zieliński - 8.5: Our man of the match and the highest-rated player on the pitch. He was the creative hub for Inter, pulling the strings in midfield with effortless grace. He created three chances, including one big chance, and his passing was simply sublime. His vision and technical quality were on another level, and he was the one player who constantly looked like he could unlock the stubborn Lecce defence.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 7.0: A typically industrious performance from the veteran midfielder. He was everywhere, taking six shots and constantly trying to make things happen. While his shooting was a bit wayward, his work rate and desire could not be faulted. He recovered the ball six times and was a key part of Inter’s engine room before being subbed.

Nicolò Barella - 6.5: A busy, if unspectacular, 57 minutes for the captain. He was his usual energetic self, linking play and creating a couple of chances. However, he seemed a little off his best and was substituted early in the second half as Inter looked for a breakthrough. A decent contribution but not his most influential game.

Carlos Augusto - 7.5: A fantastic performance on the wing. He was a monster in the duels, winning an incredible 14 of his 20 battles. He was a constant outlet, charging up and down the flank and providing defensive solidity with four tackles. His energy was infectious and he gave Lecce's right side a torrid time.

Andy Diouf - 6.0: Had a couple of decent moments, including a shot on target, but struggled to impose himself on the game. He was subbed off before the hour mark as he couldn't quite find the key to open up the opposition. A learning experience for the young midfielder.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the French forward. He got into good positions and had four shots, but his finishing let him down. He also picked up a silly yellow card for simulation. What stood out to us was his physical presence, winning a good number of aerial duels, but he'll be disappointed not to have scored.

Ange-Yoan Bonny - 6.5: Looked lively and sharp during his time on the pitch. He had a good shot saved early on and even won a penalty that was unfortunately overturned by VAR. His pace and directness caused problems before he was replaced. A promising display that lacked only a goal.

Substitutes

Davide Frattesi - 6.5: Brought fresh legs and energy to the midfield.

Francesco Pio Esposito - 8.0: The match-winner. What an impact. Came on and completely changed the game, scoring the crucial goal with a brilliant finish. A dream substitution.

Lautaro Martínez - 7.0: Added a new dimension to the attack and immediately tested the keeper. His movement was a nightmare for tired defenders.

Petar Sucic - N/A: Came on too late to make an impact.

Manager

C. Chivu - 7.5: His team looked flat for an hour, but his substitutions were spot on. He identified the need for change and the players he brought on, particularly Esposito, won his team the match. A great example of in-game management that secured a vital three points.

Lecce Player Ratings vs Inter

Let's take a look at Lecce player ratings in Inter vs Lecce Serie A fixture:

Goalkeeper

Wladimiro Falcone - 8.0: Absolutely heroic. If not for him, Lecce would have lost by a much wider margin. He made six saves, several of them spectacular, to keep his team in the game for so long. Commanded his box with authority and was unlucky to be on the losing side. A superb goalkeeping display.

Defenders

Jamil Siebert - 7.0: A warrior's performance. Threw his body on the line with ten clearances and four blocked shots. He was a colossal presence at the back, though he did commit a few too many fouls. A really committed and brave defensive effort that deserved more.

Danilo Veiga - 6.0: Had a tough assignment against Inter's attack. He was fortunate to see a penalty decision against him overturned. Won a good number of his tackles but struggled with the relentless pressure and picked up a booking. A difficult night's work.

Antonino Gallo - 7.0: A very solid and composed display at the back. He won 100% of his tackles and made six crucial clearances. He read the game well and was rarely caught out of position. He can be proud of his individual performance against top-quality opposition.

Tiago Gabriel - 6.0: A busy and challenging evening. He made an impressive eight clearances, showing his defensive awareness. However, he struggled in his physical duels against Inter's powerful attackers. He stuck to his task but was ultimately part of a defence that was breached.

Midfielders

Omri Gandelman - 5.5: Found it very difficult to get into the game. He was bypassed in midfield and struggled to retain possession for his team. We noticed he lost a high percentage of his duels before being substituted. A night he will want to forget.

Riccardo Sottil - 6.0: One of Lecce's brighter sparks in attack. He was always willing to take players on and drew several fouls in dangerous areas. His final product was lacking, but his effort was commendable. He provided an outlet but couldn't produce a decisive moment.

Lassana Coulibaly - 7.0: A tireless worker in the heart of midfield. His passing was tidy, and he was excellent at breaking up play, recovering the ball seven times. He provided a strong shield for his defence and battled hard for the entire 90 minutes. A really impressive engine room performance.

Santiago Pierotti - 5.5: A very difficult game for the midfielder. He worked hard off the ball, but on it, he was extremely wasteful, losing possession 18 times. He struggled to make an impact and was often outmuscled in duels. A performance that just didn't click.

Youssef Maleh - 6.5: Put in a solid defensive shift, contributing with four clearances and five ball recoveries. He was disciplined and helped his team maintain their defensive shape for long periods. A selfless performance for the team.

Forwards

Nikola Stulic - 6.0: It was a lonely and thankless task for him up front. He was isolated and had to feed off scraps. Despite this, he managed to create three chances for his teammates, showing glimpses of quality. He held the ball up when he could but never had a clear sight of goal.

Substitutes

Tete Morente - 6.0: Tried to offer a spark but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Mohamed Kaba - 6.0: Brought on to add fresh legs and maintain defensive stability.

Álex Sala - N/A: Not enough time to warrant a rating.

Manager

E. Di Francesco - 7.0: His game plan was almost perfect. He set his team up to be compact, organized, and incredibly difficult to beat. They frustrated a top side for 78 minutes and were genuinely unlucky not to come away with a point. His tactical setup was excellent, and his players fought for him until the very end.

Inter vs Lecce Man of the Match

Piotr Zielinski of Inter Milan was the player of the match in the Serie A game with 8.5/10 ratings.

Worst Performer

Santiago Pierotti failed to influence the game for Lecce FC.