Inter Milan and Lecce face off at the Stadio Via del Mare on Saturday in a clash that pits relegation battlers against title favourites on Matchday 26 of the in Serie A campaign.
The hosts sit 17th in the table with 24 points from 25 games (six wins, six draws, 13 defeats, a goal difference of 17–31), while Inter travel south as league leaders with 61 points and a formidable goal record of 60–21.
Lecce vs Inter Milan – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 21st February
- Kick-off: 5pm BST
- Venue: Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, Lecce
- Last meeting: Inter Milan 1-0 Lecce, Serie A, 14th January 2026
Lecce team news
Lecce come into this game relatively healthy, but creative midfielder Medon Berisha and young forward Francesco Camarda are expected to miss out through injury.
Berisha has been sidelined with a knee problem, while Camarda is recovering from a shoulder issue, leaving Eusebio Di Francesco without two useful options in the final third.
With those absences, Di Francesco is set to stick with his now familiar 4‑2‑3‑1 shape: Wladimiro Falcone in goal, a back four of Danilo Veiga, Kialonda Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel and Antonino Gallo, with Lassana Coulibaly and Ylber Ramadani anchoring midfield.
Further forward, Santiago Pierotti, Omri Gandelman and Riccardo Sottil are expected to support centre‑forward Walid Cheddira. However, Lameck Banda – Lecce’s most dangerous dribbler and joint‑top contributor in goals and assists this season – is another option out wide.
Inter Milan team news
Inter travel to Salento with significant absentees: captain Lautaro Martínez is out after suffering a strain to the muscle in his left leg during the Champions League tie at Bodo/Glimt and is expected to miss several games.
Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu are both suspended after picking up costly yellow cards in the recent win over Juventus, meaning Chivu must reshuffle his midfield once again.
Denzel Dumfries remains sidelined as he completes his recovery from ankle surgery, leaving Luis Henrique and Carlos Augusto as the main options for the wide roles.
Piotr Zieliński has shaken off minor discomfort and Davide Frattesi has been cleared after recent stomach issues, with both expected to feature from the start alongside Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Form
Lecce
Lecce’s season has been marked by inconsistency, with 24 points from 25 matches leaving them just three clear of the relegation zone. After an eight‑match winless streak (two draws and six defeats), they have responded with vital successive victories over Udinese (2-1) and Cagliari (2-0).
Inter Milan
They have won 12 of their last 13 league matches (the only blemish a draw with Napoli) and are on a current six‑match winning streak in Serie A, including a dramatic 3‑2 victory over Juventus last time out. However, they come to this match after a disappointing European midweek game in which they tasted defeat at the hands of Bodo/Glimt (1-3) in the UCL playoffs first leg.
Predicted lineups
Lecce: Falcone; Veiga, Gabriel, Gaspar, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Gandelman, Banda; Cheddira
Inter Milan: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito
How to watch Lecce vs Inter Milan?
UK viewers can stream the game on TNT Sports via discovery+.
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