Inter Milan opened their 2026-27 Serie A title defence with a commanding 4-1 victory over Monza at San Siro on 22 August 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Hakan Calhanoglu put Inter ahead early, scoring in the sixth minute [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Monza responded before halftime when 21-year-old Gustavo Varela scored on his Serie A debut in the 29th minute to level the match [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].
Shortly after the break, Piotr Zielinski restored Inter's lead with a goal in the 48th minute [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Francesco Pio Esposito extended the lead with an impressive backheel flick for Inter’s third goal around the 55th minute and later assisted Yann Bisseck, who netted Inter's fourth goal in the 63rd minute with a shot that deflected off a Monza defender [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].
England defender John Stones made his debut for Inter, coming on as a substitute for Manuel Akanji during the match [1, 2, 3, 4]. Monza, playing their first season in Serie A after promotion, showed fighting spirit but were ultimately outclassed by the reigning champions [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].
Inter Milan currently leads the Serie A table on goal difference after the first matchday, while Napoli also won their opener 2-0 against Genoa on the same day [1, 2, 3, 5]. Inter coach Cristian Chivu said the opponents caused problems but praised his team’s calm and improved play in the second half: "We worked hard to stick to our tactics, and after getting the lead, we found our rhythm and played more smoothly" [5].
The victory puts Inter in a strong position as they aim to defend their title. Their next match will see them seek to extend their unbeaten run in Serie A starting with confidence from this commanding win [1, 2].
