Lecce vs Inter prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-08-12 18:45.
Lecce are back in Serie A after a two-year absence, and they could barely have been handed a tougher assignment on their return to the top tier as they host 2021/22 runners-up Inter Milan. The Wolves sealed the Serie B title on the final day last season by beating Pordenone 1-0, one of 13 wins (D5, L1) at Via del Mare as they picked up more points at home than any team in the division.
Marco Baroni’s side have already played their first competitive game of the new campaign, but were left red-faced by a 3-2 Coppa Italia defeat to minnows Cittadella after extra time. That does not bode well as they look to turn around a terrible H2H record against Inter, who they have beaten just once in their last twelve meetings (D3, L8), keeping just one clean sheet in the process.
Inter, meanwhile, missed out on the Serie A title by just two points last season, with a final day victory over Sampdoria not enough to topple city rivals AC Milan. They have strengthened their squad significantly as they plot another assault on top spot, with Romelu Lukaku’s return on loan from Chelsea comfortably their most eye-catching arrival.
Simone Inzaghi will be hoping the Belgian’s return can further boost a side who scored 84 goals last season, comfortably more than any other side in the top flight. The Nerazzurri, who also picked up 39 of an available 57 points on their travels (only AC and Napoli collected more), are looking to put a difficult pre-season behind them after recent defeats to Lens and Villarreal.
Players to watch: Lukaku netted on his Inter debut as they beat Lecce 4-0 on the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign, and returns to Italy where he scored 30 goals in 44 games in 2020/21. Meanwhile Lecce signed Assan Ceesay after he bagged 22 goals for Zurich last season, including six in this final seven appearances.
Hot stat: Lukaku has moved clubs on seven previous occasions and scored on his debut five times – including after his two loan moves to West Brom and Everton.