Inter Milan made a powerful statement at the start of their Serie A title defence, sweeping aside newly promoted Monza 4-1 at San Siro on Saturday in a match that saw the champions recover from a difficult first half with a devastating attacking display after the break.
Cristian Chivu’s side produced the kind of second-half performance that will encourage Inter supporters ahead of another demanding campaign. Hakan Calhanoglu, Piotr Zielinski, Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Bisseck were all on target as Inter transformed a 1-1 half-time scoreline into a comfortable victory.
Inter wasted little time announcing their intentions. The hosts took the lead in the sixth minute, when Calhanoglu produced a superb long-range finish. The Turkey international found the space to unleash a powerful effort that left the Monza goalkeeper with little opportunity to react.
The early goal appeared to put Inter in control, but Monza refused to be intimidated by the champions. The visitors showed considerable character and continued to look for openings whenever they moved forward.
Their persistence paid off in the 29th minute, when Gustavo Varela equalised. The goal changed the mood inside San Siro and gave Monza renewed belief that they could cause an upset against the defending champions.
Inter continued to dominate possession and created opportunities before the interval, but Monza’s organisation prevented the hosts from restoring their advantage. The visitors defended with determination and ensured that Inter went into the dressing room at 1-1.
The second half, however, belonged almost entirely to Inter.
Chivu’s players returned from the break with greater intensity and immediately began putting Monza under sustained pressure. Just three minutes after the restart, Inter regained the lead through Piotr Zielinski.
The midfielder’s goal proved to be the turning point of the contest. With Inter now attacking with greater confidence, Monza began to struggle to contain the hosts’ movement and passing combinations.
Only seven minutes later, Inter struck again. Francesco Pio Esposito produced one of the highlights of the match in the 55th minute, scoring with an excellent flick that demonstrated the young striker’s confidence and technical ability.
The goal gave Inter a commanding 3-1 advantage and placed Monza in a difficult position. The visitors were forced to take more risks in search of another goal, but that only created additional spaces for Inter’s attackers to exploit.
Inter continued to press forward and were rewarded again in the 63rd minute when Yann Bisseck added the fourth goal. The strike completed a remarkable period for the hosts, who had scored three times in just 15 minutes after the interval.
From that point, the result was effectively beyond doubt. Inter controlled the remainder of the match intelligently, while Monza struggled to recreate the attacking threat they had shown during the first half.
The victory will be particularly satisfying for Chivu because it demonstrated Inter’s ability to respond when a match does not initially go according to plan. Rather than allowing Monza’s equaliser to disrupt their confidence, the champions returned after half-time with greater purpose and eventually overwhelmed their opponents.
The emergence of Esposito was another major positive. The young forward’s goal provides Chivu with an additional attacking option alongside established stars such as Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. His performance could become increasingly important as Inter balance domestic competition with their other commitments throughout the season.
The match also provided an opportunity for new signing John Stones to make his Inter debut, adding further depth and experience to a squad that has undergone changes during the summer.
For Monza, the final score was harsh considering how competitive they were during the opening 45 minutes. Their equaliser demonstrated that they possess the character to compete at Serie A level, but maintaining that intensity against a team of Inter’s quality proved extremely difficult.
The defeat will nevertheless provide valuable lessons for a newly promoted side. Monza will need to become more resilient when opponents increase the tempo, particularly against the league’s strongest teams.
For Inter, meanwhile, the 4-1 victory sends an early warning to their Serie A rivals. The champions may face tougher challenges as the season progresses, but their ability to turn a tense contest into a convincing victory demonstrates why they remain among the leading contenders for another Scudetto.
Match Details:
Inter Milan 4-1 Monza
Goals: Hakan Calhanoglu 6′, Gustavo Varela 29′, Piotr Zielinski 48′, Francesco Pio Esposito 55′, Yann Bisseck 63′.
