Lecce vs Inter, everything you need to know

Following their home win over Juventus, Inter are preparing to return to Serie A action at the Stadio Via del Mare, where they will face Lecce on Matchday 26. The Nerazzurri are eager to continue their positive run and further strengthen their league campaign, buoyed by performances, statistics and head-to-head records that underline the solidity of the group. In the reverse fixture, Cristian Chivu’s side secured a crucial three points with a 1-0 victory at San Siro. After 78 minutes of sustained pressure, Inter found the breakthrough through a decisive left-foot strike from Esposito — a goal that rewarded Chivu’s attacking approach — before Yann Sommer’s key save ensured the result was secured.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

This will be the 40th Serie A meeting between Lecce and Inter, and the head-to-head record heavily favours the Nerazzurri: 31 wins for Inter, alongside four draws and four victories for the Salentini.

Inter are the side Lecce have lost to most often in the top flight (31 defeats) and the opponent against whom they have most frequently failed to score (22 matches). Recent history reinforces the trend: Lecce have lost each of their last seven Serie A encounters with Inter, failing to find the net in the most recent six.

Inter’s defensive solidity is further highlighted by another statistic: six consecutive league clean sheets against the Giallorossi. Should they keep another shutout, Lecce would join Como as the team against whom Inter currently boast their longest active run without conceding in Serie A.

The Nerazzurri have also won their last three league away matches in Lecce and could secure a fourth consecutive top-flight victory on Salento soil for the first time in their history.

INTER’S FORM

Inter head into the clash on outstanding away form in Serie A: eight consecutive league wins on the road, including five clean sheets in the most recent run. In the club’s Serie A history, only one streak surpasses it: between October 2006 and March 2007, when Roberto Mancini’s side recorded 11 straight away victories.

More broadly, the recent trajectory speaks volumes: 12 wins from the last 13 league matches (the only draw coming against Napoli), with six consecutive victories at the moment.

With 61 points collected from 25 games, Inter could move to at least 64 after 26 matches. In their Serie A history (during the three-points-per-win era), this has happened only three times: in 1988/89 (65 points), 2006/07 (70) and 2023/24 (69).

Set pieces have also proven decisive. Eighteen of Inter’s 60 league goals this season (30%) have come from dead-ball situations, including 13 from corners, the highest tally in this league season. That threat complements an exceptional attacking output: across Europe’s Top 5 leagues, only FC Bayern Munich (111) have created more big chances than Inter (108, level with FC Barcelona).

DIMARCO, THE ASSIST SPECIALIST

A standout performer this season for Inter has been Federico Dimarco. The Nerazzurri wing-back has already provided 12 assists in this Serie A campaign: no Inter player has recorded more in a single top-flight season since detailed data became available (from 2004/05 onwards), matching the tally set by Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu in 2021/22.

Among defenders, only Massimo Oddo (13 in 2005/06) has done better over the past 20 seasons. Dimarco could also become the first defender since 2006/07 to register an assist in five consecutive Serie A appearances, a feat achieved in that span only by Antonio Cassano, Gianni Munari, Miralem Pjanić and Lorenzo Insigne.

Looking across Europe’s Top 5 leagues in 2026, only Michael Olise (11 goal involvements – 3 goals and 8 assists) has been involved in more goals than Dimarco, who has contributed to 10 in just eight matches (3 goals and 7 assists).

PIO ESPOSITO, CONTINUOUS GROWTH

Francesco Pio Esposito is also on a positive run of form. The 2005-born forward has been involved in four goals across his last six Serie A appearances (three goals and one assist), after contributing to three goals in his first 17 top-flight outings with Inter. A clear upward trajectory that highlights both the quality and the personality of the young striker.

ZIELINSKI, MILESTONES AND RECORDS

Against Juventus, Piotr Zielnski reached 49 Serie A goals, drawing level with Arkadiusz Milik as the joint top Polish scorer in the history of the Italian top flight. The Nerazzurri midfielder is also just one direct goal involvement away from reaching 100 in Serie A, having recorded 49 goals and 50 assists to date for Inter and his previous clubs.

THE OPPOSITION: LECCE

Lecce go into the match sitting 17th in the table on 24 points, having recorded six wins and six draws. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side have scored 17 goals and conceded 31 so far this season. After an eight-match winless run (two draws and six defeats), the Salentini have responded with back-to-back league victories against Udinese and Cagliari.

Statistically, Lecce stand out for their threat from distance: 29% of their league goals this season (five out of 17) have come from outside the box – the highest percentage in the league. They have also scored twice from direct free-kicks (one from Lameck Banda and one from Medon Berisha), a joint league-high tally shared with Genoa.

Lecce are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Falcone in goal; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel and Gallo across the back line; Ramadani and Coulibaly anchoring midfield; and Pierotti, Gandelman and Sottil operating behind Cheddira in attack.

DISCIPLINARY SITUATION

SUSPENDED US Lecce: – Inter: Barella (1), Çalhanoğlu (1)

ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION Lecce: – Inter: Bastoni

OFFICIALS

The referee for Lecce vs Inter, valid for Matchday 26 of Serie A, will be Gianluca Manganiello from the Pinerolo section.

Referee: Manganiello Assistants: Rossi – Dei Giudici Fourth Official: Dionisi VAR: Paterna AVAR: Aureliano

LECCE v INTER, WHERE TO WATCH ON TV

Lecce vs Inter, scheduled for Saturday 21 February at 18:00 CET, will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN. The match will be available via the DAZN app on smart TVs and through streaming on mobile devices including PC, smartphone and tablet.

UPDATES ON INTER TV

Inter TV will provide live updates and pre-match coverage from the Stadio Via del Mare. The pre-match Live Show for Lecce v Inter will begin at 16:45 CET and will also be available on YouTube via the Club’s official channel until 17:50 CET. Post-match, full analysis, reaction and interviews will follow across the Club’s official platforms.