Lecce vs Inter: leaders aim to extend lead

Lecce welcome Inter to the Stadio Via del Mare hoping to continue their positive run after victories over Udinese and Cagliari, results that have eased relegation concerns for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side. Inter, however, lead second-placed AC Milan by seven points and will be seeking a seventh consecutive league win to further strengthen their Scudetto charge.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been 21 official meetings in Salento between the two sides: Lecce have won three (most recently 1–0 in Serie A 2011/12), there have been five draws (most recently 1–1 in Serie A 2019/20) and Inter have won 13 (most recently 4–0 away in last season’s Serie A).

Lecce have gone 222 minutes without scoring at home against Inter: their last home goal in this fixture was scored by Ceesay in the 48th minute of Lecce–Inter on 12 August 2022. Lecce’s last home win over Inter dates back to 29 January 2012, a 1–0 victory decided by Giacomazzi.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lecce are coming off back-to-back wins for the first time in Serie A 2025/26: a 2–1 home win over Udinese and a 2–0 away win at Cagliari.

Inter (60) and Lecce (17) are the highest- and lowest-scoring teams respectively in Serie A 2025/26.

Lecce are one of five Serie A 2025/26 teams that have not benefited from any opposition red cards, along with Torino, Milan, Verona and Sassuolo.

Inter are one of three Serie A 2025/26 teams yet to receive a red card, along with Torino and Cagliari.

Inter have recorded 12 wins and one draw in their last 13 Serie A matchdays. Their last defeat dates back to 23 November, a 1–0 home loss in the derby against Milan.

Inter are the top team in Serie A 2025/26 for goals scored in the opening 15 minutes of the first half (9), the final 15 minutes of the first half (9), and the final 15 minutes of the second half (16).

COACHES and PLAYERS

It will be the second official meeting between Eusebio Di Francesco and Cristian Chivu: Inter won the reverse fixture 1–0.

Wladimiro Falcone has started all 25 league matches so far. He has now been on the pitch from kick-off in 139 consecutive Serie A matches (a run that began on Matchday 1 of 2022/23, also with Lecce).

Ylber Ramadani scored against Cagliari: it was the Albanian midfielder’s first league goal of the season. He had not scored in Serie A since 18 May 2025, in Lecce–Torino 1–0.

Omri Gandelman scored against Cagliari: it was the Lecce midfielder’s second straight goal. He had not scored in back-to-back matches since 28 September–30 October 2025, when he scored six goals in five games for Gent across the Pro League and the Belgian Cup.

Piotr Zieliński scored against Juventus: it was the Inter midfielder’s fifth league goal of the season. He had not scored as many in a single Serie A campaign since 2021/22 (six for Napoli). Inter’s number 7 has also drawn level with Arkadiusz Milik on 49 goals, the joint-most by a Polish player in Serie A history.

Francesco Pio Esposito scored against Juventus: it was the Inter forward’s fourth Serie A goal. He had not scored in the league since 23 January, in Inter–Pisa 6–2.

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: Barella, Calhanoglu (Inter)

Cautioned: Bastoni (Inter)

REFEREE

MANGANIELLO (ROSSI M. – DEI GIUDICI) IV: DIONISI, VAR: PATERNA, AVAR: AURELIANO

UPCOMING MATCHES

Como-Lecce (Saturday February 28, 15.00 CET)

Inter-Genoa (Saturday February 28, 20.45 CET)

(Photo Getty Images)