The Nerazzurri team hosted and defeated Lecce, 2-0, while the Genoa side triumphed at Monza, 1-0.
Inter, the reigning Italian champions, and Genoa, featuring the Portuguese forward Vitinha, secured their first victories in Serie A this Saturday in matches from the second round, marking an important early step in their respective campaigns.
The Nerazzurri team, continuing their strong form from last season, hosted and defeated Lecce 2-0 at the iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan. Inter wasted no time in asserting their dominance, taking the lead just five minutes into the match. The opening goal came from a well-coordinated move involving former FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, who was making his first start in Italy. Taremi’s intelligent header set up Matteo Darmian, who finished the play with a well-placed header of his own, giving Inter an early advantage.
Inter, under the guidance of coach Simone Inzaghi, maintained control throughout the match. Their persistent pressure paid off again in the 69th minute when Hakan Çalhanoglu doubled the lead. The Turkish midfielder converted a penalty after Kialonda Gaspar, an Angolan defender who recently joined Lecce from Estrela da Amadora, fouled Marcus Thuram inside the box. Çalhanoglu's cool finish from the spot sealed the victory for Inter, ensuring their first three points of the season and a positive start in their title defense.
On the other hand, Genoa, a team that has shown promise this season, also earned a hard-fought victory, triumphing 1-0 away at Monza. The match was closely contested, with Genoa relying on the contributions of their key players, including Portuguese forward Vitinha, who was making his second start of the season. The decisive moment came deep into first-half stoppage time, when Andrea Pinamonti rose highest to head home a crucial goal in the 45+7th minute, securing the win for Genoa. Pinamonti’s goal was a testament to Genoa’s resilience and determination, helping them secure their first victory of the campaign.
This victory propelled both Inter and Genoa to the top of the Serie A standings, albeit temporarily, as they joined Parma on four points. Parma had earlier pulled off a significant result by defeating AC Milan 2-1. Milan, featuring Portuguese stars Paulo Fonseca and Rafael Leão, are yet to secure a victory in this season's competition, adding pressure on the Rossoneri to bounce back quickly. Meanwhile, Udinese also moved up the table with a 2-1 win over Lazio, further intensifying the competition at the top.
As the Serie A season progresses, both Inter and Genoa will be looking to build on these early successes. For Inter, the challenge will be to sustain their form and continue their title defense with consistency and determination. Genoa, on the other hand, will aim to leverage their positive start to establish themselves as a competitive force in the league, with young talents like Vitinha playing a crucial role in their campaign.
The early stages of the Serie A season have already delivered excitement and unexpected results, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling and closely contested race for the title and European qualification spots.
