Player Ratings: Lecce 1-0 Inter

Spent most of the game acting as a left-back rather than wing-back as Lecce’s back three often became a back five. Gave great protection to Miglionico as the home side held out for the three points.

His low cross picked out Giacomazzi as Lecce defied the weight of territory and possession to take the lead. He then spent most of his time pinned back as the home side absorbed long spells of pressure.

Stood firm in the centre, despite his side being beaten occasionally in the air by the advancing Samuel. Inter may have had the ball in the back of the net twice, but they were always up against it thanks to the stubborn home defence.

Turned in a great debut performance as he and Brivio worked well together to keep Javier Zanetti from dominating down their flank.

Looked to exploit Inter in behind with adventurous running which often had the visitors retreating. His energy was much of the reason Lecce kept a clean sheet as he proved valuable in the defensive half too, often proving the answer to Obi’s threat.

Did an honest job in the midfield, if not a convincing one. With a better angled run he may have been able to turn in Muriel’s first-half cross, but his endeavour helped to keep Inter on their toes throughout.

Hit a lovely low effort on the turn past Julio Cesar to give the home side the lead against the run of play from Oddo’s cross. Thereafter he spent much of his time standing firm in midfield up against Inter’s possession-heavy approach.

A valuable performance from the debutant, who ensured that Inter’s superiority in the middle wasn’t fatal to his side, closing at the right times and getting some vital tackles in.

Missing the touch of old, but his canny running helped to stretch Inter and keep them honest at the back. Could have doubled the margin of victory at the end but for Julio Cesar’s excellent reaction save.

Looked a real livewire up front, with Inter offering no more answers than when he caused them trouble at San Siro in the meeting last month. His centre for Olivera should have been turned home, and his clever running had the back four stretched whenever Lecce broke.

Could do little as Giacomazzi turned and fired beyond him from Oddo’s cross, but he did superbly to keep out Di Michele in the last minute.

Tried to use his wily ingenuity to get the better of Brivio and Miglionico on the right, but it just wasn’t Inter’s day as Lecce defended deep enough and well enough to give the Argentine a headache or two.

Not as cutting as usual despite often getting forward to help Inter pile on the pressure, particularly after they’d gone behind.

Did well to scramble the ball away after Muriel squared for Olivera and had Julio Cesar and Lucio flat-footed, then threatened regularly in the air, forcing a great save from Benassi and heading another effort against the post.

Unable to give Obi enough support going forward to get the better of Cuadrado, with much of his action taking place in front of the massed Lecce ranks.

Looked to open up the Lecce backline wherever possible, but was able to do little to break them down aside from Samuel’s header from his corner which forced Benassi to save. Withdrawn at the break for Ricky Alvarez.

Thought he’d equalised when diving to head home the scraps from Samuel’s header off the post, but he was flagged offside. Later found to have advanced too far when diverting the ball into the path of would-be scorer Milito.

Had a mixed afternoon down the left, with a number of reasonable opportunities to cross coming to nothing. Continues to put in decent shifts in midfield without regularly being able to open up the opposition.

Looked certain to open the scoring until denied by an excellent save by Benassi, then saw a surefire headed goal somehow kept out by the keeper in the last minute of normal time. He’ll see many less convincing efforts find the net this season.

Shot across the face of an open goal from a narrow angle after dispossessing Benassi, but later appeared to have equalised from close range only for the offside flag to go up. Couldn’t quite find the space necessary to get in behind the Lecce backline.