Serie A: Inter Milan crush Monza (4-1) and make a statement

22.08.26 FT Serie A Italy

Inter

4

:

Monza

1

Driven by Çalhanoğlu, Zielinski, Esposito, and Bisseck, Inter launched their title defense in style in front of the San Siro faithful.

The reigning champions didn't miss a beat in their opener. On Serie A's opening day, Inter Milan dominated Monza 4-1 at the San Siro. Hakan Çalhanoğlu set the tone as early as the 6th minute, smashing a powerful shot into the top corner. Varela's equalizer in the 29th minute didn’t faze the Nerazzurri, who shifted gears after halftime thanks to Piotr Zielinski (48'), Francesco Pio Esposito (55'), and Yann Bisseck (63').

Inter’s starting XI against Monza

Cristian Chivu stuck with his 3-5-2 formation, naming Lautaro Martinez as captain up front alongside Francesco Pio Esposito. The Romanian tactician also handed starts to Manuel Akanji at the heart of defense and Andy Diouf on the right flank.

Inter’s starting lineup: Josep Martínez – Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni – Andy Diouf, Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Piotr Zielinski, Federico Dimarco – Francesco Pio Esposito, Lautaro Martinez.

With 69% possession, 14 shots, and a passing accuracy of 91%, Inter quickly regained control after conceding. The three goals between the 48th and 63rd minutes showcased the champions’ ability to shift the tempo at will. Four different scorers also underlined the attacking variety of a squad that’s far from reliant on its front two.

Also read: Espanyol – Real Madrid: official lineups for Mourinho’s first match

Double on the line and Lautaro declared untouchable

Inter are coming off a rock-solid 2025-2026 domestic campaign. The Nerazzurri clinched their 21st Scudetto with 87 points, racking up 27 wins, six draws, and just five losses, while netting 89 goals. They finished 11 points clear of Napoli before lifting their tenth Coppa Italia with a 2-0 win over Lazio in the final. Their Champions League run, however, ended in disappointment, as they suffered a shock playoff exit to Bodø/Glimt (5-2 on aggregate).

Skipper against Monza, Lautaro Martinez remains the face of the project. While his representatives recently met with FC Barcelona officials, Beppe Marotta has declared the Argentine striker completely untouchable. Under contract through June 2029, last season’s Serie A top scorer with 17 goals looks set to continue his Inter story, having already notched 175 goals in 376 appearances for the club.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

Related teams and leagues

Inter

Monza

Serie A Italy