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.



Guardiola Says It’s His Responsibility to Get City Firing Again

 Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches the play during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches the play during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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Guardiola Says It’s His Responsibility to Get City Firing Again

 Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches the play during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches the play during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it is his responsibility to get their season back on track after they suffered a fifth successive defeat on Saturday and that the current squad is strong enough to turn things around.

City's 4-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium marked the first time in Guardiola's career that he has lost five games in a row in all competitions.

They have been without a number of key players this season, with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defender Ruben Dias among those absent due to injury on Saturday.

"We don't expect to lose important players for many times, but it's happened. You have to find a way to deal with that ...," Guardiola told reporters.

"When we start to lose, I said to the people: 'I have to find a way - I have to. We have to find another way to win it.' It's my duty, my responsibility. Find a way to be more consistent and our game will be better, and we will win games."

Asked if City needed to be strengthened in the transfer window, Guardiola added: "I trust more than ever with these players. I think the squad, when all the squad is there, is exceptional, but the team is not ready here."

City are second on 23 points, eight adrift of leaders Liverpool who they meet at Anfield on Sunday.