Inter win in Lecce with late goals to strengthen their Serie A lead, while Como shock Juventus 2-0 in Turin to move within 1 point of the Bianconeri in the race for Europe.
Inter took another important step towards the Serie A title with a controlled win away at Lecce in matchday 26, a game that looked destined to stay goalless until the final quarter of an hour.
Simone Inzaghi team were patient, organised and dominant in territory and possession, but had to wait for a set piece breakthrough to finally turn superiority into goals and, with it, reinforce their lead at the top of the table.
From the opening minutes, Inter imposed a familiar rhythm. The back line circulated the ball quickly to pull Lecce out of position, while the midfield rotated to create passing lanes and keep Inter on the front foot. Lecce defended with discipline, often dropping into a compact block and looking to limit space between the lines, forcing Inter to attack more through the flanks and from wide combinations. That approach largely worked for the home side for most of the afternoon, because Inter had plenty of the ball but initially lacked the final pass or the clean first touch in the box to create clear chances.
The first half was a story of control rather than chaos. Inter pushed Lecce deep, won corners and free kicks in advanced areas and threatened through crosses, but Lecce stayed alive by defending their box well and breaking up attacks at key moments. When Lecce did get a chance to breathe, they tried to counter quickly into the channels, aiming to catch Inter full backs high up the pitch. Inter, however, were rarely exposed, recovering positions fast and preventing Lecce from turning transitions into shots.
After the interval, Inter thought they had found the opening goal. Federico Dimarco ended up on the scoresheet in the 51st minute, but the celebration was cut short after the video assistant referee intervened and the goal was ruled out. The disallowed strike changed the emotional temperature of the match. Inter increased the tempo, Lecce grew more cautious, and the game started to feel like it was moving towards a decisive moment, either through a mistake, a moment of individual quality, or a dead ball situation.
As the clock ticked on, Inter continued to squeeze. The ball spent long stretches in Lecce half, with Inter repeatedly forcing clearances, second balls and more corners. The pressure eventually paid off in the 75th minute. From a corner situation, the ball fell kindly for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who finished with his right foot to make it 1-0. It was not a goal built from flowing open play, but it was exactly the type of efficiency top sides need in matches where the opponent resists for long periods. For Inter, the timing was ideal: late enough to break Lecce spirit, but with enough minutes left to go for a second goal and remove any late drama.
Lecce tried to respond by stepping higher and committing more bodies forward, but that only gave Inter extra space on the next phases. The visitors stayed calm, managed the match well, and continued to look dangerous on set pieces. In the 82nd minute, the advantage was doubled, again following a corner. Dimarco delivered an inviting cross and Manuel Akanji rose to meet it with a firm header, finishing with precision to make it 2-0. It was another illustration of Inter strength in dead ball routines, and it effectively decided the contest.
Beyond the goals, the performance underlined Inter maturity. Even when the game stayed locked at 0-0, there was little sense of panic. Inter kept their structure, kept winning territory and trusted that chances would arrive. For Inzaghi, that is a hallmark of a title chasing side: control first, patience second, ruthlessness when the opening appears.
Earlier in the day, attention in Italy also turned to Turin, where Como produced one of the standout results of the round by beating Juventus 2-0 away from home. It was a statement win for the Lombardy club and another setback for Juventus, who recorded a third consecutive Serie A match without a victory. The result added more pressure in a tight race for European places and highlighted the momentum Como have built under coach Cesc Fabregas.
Como started strongly and were rewarded early. In the 11th minute, Mergim Vojvoda opened the scoring after receiving an assist from Tasos Douvikas. The goal gave Como confidence and allowed them to play the match on their terms: compact when defending, brave when stepping forward, and quick when exploiting space behind Juventus midfield. Juventus tried to respond with more possession, but struggled to create clear opportunities against a well organised Como block.
In the second half, Como continued to threaten, and in the 62nd minute they made it 2-0 through Maxence Caqueret, a goal that further shifted the game in their favour. Juventus pushed for a response and came closest in the 84th minute when Jonathan David met a cross from Francisco Conceicao, but the header went narrowly wide. Conceicao had been introduced at half time in place of Fabio Miretti, a change designed to add pace and unpredictability, yet Como held their line and managed the key moments with composure.
The result has significant table implications. With the win, Como, in sixth place, moved closer to the top five and closed the gap to Juventus to just one point, with Juventus on 46 points. For Como, it strengthens belief that a European finish is realistic. For Juventus, it deepens concerns at a delicate stage of the season, especially given how slim the margins can be in the chase for Champions League qualification.
Across both matches, the theme of the round was clear: Inter continue to find ways to win even when the path is not straightforward, while the battle behind them remains volatile, with teams like Como taking advantage of any slip from the established powers.
Meta description: Inter beat Lecce after late set piece goals from Mkhitaryan and Akanji, while Como stunned Juventus 2-0 in Turin to move within 1 point of the bianconeri and tighten the race for European places.
