Series A
5:00 p.mFebruary 21, 2026
Regular season – 26
Ettore Giardiniero Stadium – Via del Mare
Referee: Gianluca Manganiello, Italy
Lecce
Inter
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
0.12
Expected Goals (xG)
2.15
Passing by
211 (74%)
Accurate passes
510 (86%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
30
G
Vladimir Falcone (C)
7.9
25
d
Antonino Gallo
6.3
d
Tiago Gabriel
17′ Holding
4
d
Why Gaspar?
17
d
Danilo Vega
6.2
29
m
Lassana Coulibaly
6.7
20
m
Ramadan rainbow
6.9
16
m
Omri Gandelman
6.5
23
F
Riccardo Sottil
6.5
99
F
Walid Chedira
6.9
50
F
Santiago Pierotti
6.2
trainer
Eusebio Di Francesco
1
G
Yann Sommer
6.7
d
Alessandro Bastoni
88′ d
Stefan de Vrij (C)
10′ Holding
31
d
Yann Bisseck
7.3
m
Federico Dimarco
82′
8
m
Petar Sučić
6.9
7
m
Piotr Zieliński
7.6
16
m
Davide Frattesi
6.7
11
m
Luis Henrique
6.9
94
F
Francesco Pio Esposito
6.7
9
F
Marcus Thuram
7.3
Serie A classification – Serie A
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Promotion – Conference League (ranking)
- Relegation – Serie B
Inter Milan secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare, with late goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji deciding the Serie A match.
League leaders Inter continued their dominant Serie A campaign on 21 February 2026. This crucial win further cemented their commanding position at the top of the table.
Visiting a relegation-fighting Lecce in 17th place, Inter arrived in Puglia on the back of an impressive five-game winning streak in La Liga. Lecce, meanwhile, were aiming to cause a huge upset against the in-form champions at home.
The first half saw Inter assert their authority immediately, dominating possession and constantly probing the Lecce defence. Their offensive efforts created several early opportunities.
The early bookings disrupted the flow of the match. Inter’s Stefan de Vrij was shown a yellow card in the 10th minute. Lecce’s Tiago Gabriel also saw yellow just seven minutes later for a wrong tackle.
Despite Inter’s relentless attacks, Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone proved a formidable barrier. He made several crucial saves, thwarting Inter’s attempts on goal and keeping his team in the game.
At half-time, the score remained tied at 0-0. Inter had to find a way to turn their superiority into a breakthrough. Lecce looked to maintain their defensive resilience and perhaps snatch a rare counter-attacking opportunity.
The second half began with renewed vigor from Inter. Federico Dimarco thought he had opened the scoring in the 51st minute. However, the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside, keeping Lecce’s hopes alive.
The Inter coach made some shocking substitutions around the hour mark. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji were introduced, bringing fresh energy and attacking impetus to the visitors.
Finally, the breakthrough came in the 75th minute. Mkhitaryan, a recent substitute, showed his experience. He guided home a clinical finish, giving Inter a deserved lead after sustained pressure.
Just seven minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Inter doubled their lead. Manuel Akanji rose higher and headed home a powerful effort. The accurate delivery came from Federico Dimarco, which effectively sealed the points for Inter.
The statistics highlighted Inter’s complete dominance throughout the match. They dominated 68% of the possession and fired a total of 24 shots, with 9 on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 2.15, compared to just 0.12 for Lecce. Goalkeeper Falcone was undoubtedly Lecce’s standout player, with 6 saves.
This vital victory takes Inter’s points total to 61, maintaining a strong lead at the top of Serie A. Lecce remained in 17th place, still fighting to avoid the relegation zone after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful display.
