Inter Milan crushes Monza 4-1 in dominant Serie A season opener

Inter Milan launched their Serie A title defense with an authoritative 4-1 thrashing of Monza at the San Siro, signaling their intent to rivals early in the season. The reigning Italian champions showcased a commanding performance, consolidating Cristian Chivu's project and asserting their dominance from the outset.

The match, a Lombardy derby, saw Inter take an early lead within six minutes. Pio Esposito created space for Hakan Calhanoglu, who unleashed an impeccable long-range strike. Despite the early setback, Monza, promoted back to the top flight, showed resilience. In the 28th minute, Portuguese player Gustavo Varela capitalized on a dip in Inter's intensity to score the equalizer, momentarily silencing the home crowd and offering a brief respite to Monza's coach Ivan Juric.

However, Inter's response after halftime was immediate and decisive. Cristian Chivu's halftime team talk clearly had the desired effect, as the champions returned with renewed vigor. They regained the lead in the 48th minute due to a significant error by Monza's goalkeeper, Semuel Pizzignacco. From that point, the game became a one-sided affair, dominated by a stellar performance from Pio Esposito, who added a third goal with a skillful backheel finish.

The rout was completed in the 63rd minute when Yann Bisseck scored the fourth goal. With the victory secured, Inter comfortably managed the remainder of the match, sending a clear message to their challengers: the king of Italy is back and hungry for more.