Inter's Night to Remember: Inter Milan Crush Monza in Serie A Opener
Milan - By Dr. Talal Othman
Defending Serie A champions Inter Milan opened their 2026-27 campaign in style with a commanding 4-1 win over newly-promoted Monza, in a match played this evening at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), on Matchday 1 of the league season.
A Shaky Start, A Ruthless Finish
The match unfolded across two starkly contrasting halves. In the first period, the Nerazzurri, under new head coach Cristian Chiuv, looked far from their best despite taking an early lead, while Monza led by their own new manager Ivan Juric imposed a disciplined structure that allowed them to fight their way back into the game.
Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring early, in the 6th minute, with a rocket strike from over 25 yards that flew into the top corner, following a decisive assist from Andy Diouf and clever hold-up play from Francesco Pio Esposito. Monza, however, refused to be shaken by the early setback: Gustavo Varela equalized in the 29th minute, skilfully turning defender Manuel Akanji before finding the far corner with a precise angled drive, set up by a defense-splitting pass from Mathis Mout.
A Nerazzurri Awakening After the Break
Inter came out for the second half looking like an entirely different team, taking full control of the match. Piotr Zielinski restored the lead in the 48th minute, capitalizing on a glaring error from Monza goalkeeper Samuele Pizzignacco, who failed to deal with a well-placed corner delivery from Federico Dimarco.
Inter kept up the pressure, and Francesco Pio Esposito added a third in the 55th minute with a moment of real showmanship a backheel finish from inside the box off a low cutback from Diouf near the byline. The fourth goal arrived in the 63rd minute through Yann Bisseck, who capped off a well-worked move with a left-footed finish after a precise assist from Esposito, sealing the goal tally and giving his side a powerful start to their title defense.
A Quiet Night for Inter's Captain on His Birthday
Despite the resounding victory, captain Lautaro Martinez failed to live up to fans' expectations, delivering a subdued performance and picking up a yellow card in a match that coincided with his 29th birthday all amid ongoing speculation over his future at the club during the current summer transfer window.
On the other side of the ledger, the match saw new summer signing John Stones make an appearance from the bench, alongside fellow new arrivals Spence and Jones additions that position Inter among the favorites to compete for the title this season.
Tactical Reading
Inter lined up in their customary 3-5-2 formation and managed to seize control of possession after the break, while Monza played a 3-4-3 under Juric, who is taking charge of his first match with the club. The Brianza side, hampered by several absences due to suspension and injury, saw their defensive balance in particular unravel during the second half.
The Bottom Line
A deserved win for Inter Milan gives them the ideal start to their title-defense campaign, despite the warning signs that surfaced during a shaky first half against a newly-promoted side. Monza, for their part, showed real character in the opening 45 minutes before ultimately paying the price for individual errors and the gap in technical quality between the two sides in the second half.
