Inter Beat Lecce 2-0 in Serie A Home Opener

Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
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Inter Beat Lecce 2-0 in Serie A Home Opener

Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights

Champions Inter Milan beat Lecce 2-0 at home in Serie A as goals from Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu secured Simone Inzaghi's side their first win of the season.

Inter, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Genoa last weekend, were well in control of the match and provisionally moved top of the table with four points, Reuters reported.

Darmian gave Inter the lead inside five minutes after the ball bounced up in front of the defender who headed it into the net.

Calhanoglu doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, after Inter were awarded a spot-kick for Kialonda Gaspar's foul on Marcus Thuram.

Calhanoglu converted his 17th penalty out of 17 in the Italian top flight.

Inter were without captain Lautaro Martinez, last season's top scorer, who was sidelined with a muscle problem.

Lecce, who kicked off their third consecutive season in Serie A with a 4-0 home defeat by Atalanta last week, play Cagliari on Aug. 31.

Rivals AC Milan were stunned in a 2-1 loss at promoted Parma earlier on Saturday, and 10-man Udinese beat Lazio 2-1 before Genoa earned a 1-0 win at Monza to move up to second in the standings.



Life is Beautiful but Juve Keeping Feet on Ground, Says Motta

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Como - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - August 19, 2024 Juventus coach Thiago Motta reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Como - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - August 19, 2024 Juventus coach Thiago Motta reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Life is Beautiful but Juve Keeping Feet on Ground, Says Motta

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Como - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - August 19, 2024 Juventus coach Thiago Motta reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Como - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - August 19, 2024 Juventus coach Thiago Motta reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Juventus coach Thiago Motta described his life as beautiful on Sunday but he is not getting carried away before his team face Hellas Verona.

Motta, brought in after four seasons without a league title for Juventus, began with a 3-0 win over Como and on Monday they go to Verona who started with a 3-0 victory over Napoli.

"We remain with our feet on the ground after the first day of the championship," Reuters quoted Motta telling reporters.

"Now we are on the second day, we face a team that is in good form after their victory against a team that is a serious candidate for the Scudetto.

"We played at home against Como, which was a good performance and a good result for us. Tomorrow I expect a different story and we have to be ready for everything."

Motta attracted the attention of Juventus after taking Bologna to a fifth-place finish last season.

"You look at it from the outside but from the inside my life is beautiful. I wake up early with great energy and enthusiasm to come to training," Motta said.

"I find myself with fantastic people who have that same enthusiasm. I find myself with guys who arrive with a huge desire to improve."

Juventus had been slow to bring in the players Motta requires to challenge for the title, but Argentine winger Nico Gonzalez is having his medical on Sunday before signing from Fiorentina.

Another winger, Francisco Conceicao, is expected to arrive on loan from Porto.

"They are strong players which is why they will come to our squad. Every player that arrives will give us a big hand to be competitive until the end," Motta said.

"That is the case for those already here and those who will arrive."