The first 10-15 minutes of the match was unsurprisingly Nerazzurri possession, with Wesley Sneijder having two good shooting chances at goal, both saved by Antonio Rosati. He also hit the side netting from a curling set piece effort in just the 20th minute.
However shortly before, Lecce could have taken the lead. A route one piece of football from the away team saw Brivio away on the left hand side, but Corvia couldn’t finish from his cut-back from several yards out.
Inter’s grip on the game started to fizzle out a little bit, with Bertolacci making an impressive foray into the home teams box, but he was dispossessed at the last minute by Maicon. The likes of Mesbah and Olivera also pondered the Inter defence some questions.
Whilst Inter’s approach seemed quite laboured and uninspired as the half wore on, the same couldn’t be said for Lecce who were always looking for an opening via the break, albeit without ever seeming truly threatening but their enthusiasm could not be questioned.
What lacked in goal-mouth opportunities was compensated by handbags between various players. Giacomazzi was yellow carded for his kick on Samuel Eto’o, whilst Giampaolo Pazzini and Fabiano came together towards the end of the half but was broken up by referee Daniele Orsato. An ill-thought Lucio handball will also see him suspended for their colossal clash against Milan in a fortnight.
The second half started in rather bizarre fashion, as Lecce goalkeeper Rosati’s faked throw out was misjudged and almost gifted Inter with an unlikely goal. Fortunately for him, he managed to clear his lines before he could cause any further embarrassment.
But on 52 minutes, Inter made the elusive breakthrough through Pazzini’s neat sliding finish. There was suspicions of handball once the goal stood in regards to the way he chested Pandev’s delightful pass downwards, but Lecce’s appeals were quickly rejected. This all happened just a minute after Rosati pulled off a great reaction save to deny Pazzini’s header.
After a brief period of Inter possession after the goal, the match seemed to return to its first half state, with Lecce regaining their bite. The atmosphere became quite heated once again, with the tackles flying in and yellow cards being thrown about left, right, centre by Orsato.
Many important Inter players were walking on tightropes for the remainder of the match, trying to avoid any further punishment to ensure their eligibility for the upcoming Milan derby.
De Canio threw on striker Jeda in the 83rd minute to try and salvage something late on, and they came very close a minute later through Bertolacci, who should have done a lot better with his shot which went straight at Julio Cesar.
Inter eventually held on for the remaining seven minutes to keep up the pressure at the top of the table, and it seems as if the Milan derby after the international break will be a massive indicator as to who will lift this season’s Scudetto.
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Inter 1-0 Lecce: Nerazzurri Grind Out Victory Over Stubborn Visitors To Move Within Two Points Of Serie A Summit