Match Preview: Lecce vs. Inter

MILAN – The first game of the second round of fixtures is coming up for Inter, who are set to face Lecce at the Via del Mare after Tuesday night's win over Cagliari at the round of 16 stage of the Coppa Italia.

LECCE VS. INTER: STATS AND TRIVIA

Previous meetings

This will be the 32nd encounter between Inter and Lecce in Serie A, the Nerazzurri holding the better record with 24 wins, three draws and four losses. Inter have beaten Lecce more times than any other side in the top division, also scoring the most goals with 74.

Starting strongly

Inter have also scored the most goals of any team in the first half an hour of games (15), while Lecce are the only side to not have conceded in the first 15 minutes of a Serie A game this season.

Lukaku and his first goal in Serie A

Romelu Lukaku’s first goal in Serie A came against Lecce earlier this season. Of the players who made their Serie A debut for Inter in the era of a single-division Serie A, only Nyers and Meazza join Romelu Lukaku in scoring at least 14 goals from the team’s first 19 games. (Click here to discover all the facts and figures relating to Lecce vs. Inter)

ANTONIO CONTE'S WORDS

“Nothing is a given in this match, it’s the first game of the second round, we need to have the same determination that we had in the first games, the same concentration. We’re facing a team who are keen to get more points, that are playing at home, so we’ll need to be very focused. I’m always asking for signs of concreteness and I’m expecting the same again tomorrow." (Watch Antonio Conte's press conference back here)

CURRENT FORM

Inter's last five matches

Inter 4-1 Cagliari 

Inter 1-1 Atalanta

Napoli 1-3 Inter

Inter 4-0 Genoa 

Fiorentina 1-1 Inter  ​​​​Lecce's last five matches  Parma 2-0 Lecce 

Lecce 0-1 Udinese

Lecce 2-3 Bologna

Brescia 3-0 Lecce 

Lecce 2-2 Genoa

SUSPENSIONS

There aren't any players suspended for the match between Lecce and Inter. The players one booking away from suspension are: Bastoni, Candreva, D'Ambrosio (Inter); Tabanelli (Lecce).

REFEREE

Piero Giacomelli will be the referee for Lecce vs. Inter. Giacomelli will be assisted by Liberti and Bottegoni, while Marini has been named as the fourth official. Guida and Fiorito will be the VAR and Assistant VAR officials respectively.