Inter opened the defence of their Serie A crown in style, thumping visitors Monza 4-1 at the San Siro on Saturday evening in the first round of the 2026-2027 season. Having fallen behind, the hosts roared back to seal a comprehensive win.
The champions started strongly and struck first in the sixth minute. Hakan Calhanoglu latched onto a pass from Andy Diouf and lashed a powerful effort from outside the box into the Monza net.
Inter bossed the play, yet Monza levelled in the 29th minute. Mathis Mo teed up Gustavo Varela, who slipped past Manuel Akanji before slotting into the left corner.
It stayed 1-1 at the break. Inter needed only three minutes of the second half to restore their lead, Piotr Zielinski pouncing on a mix-up in the Monza defence to roll the ball into an empty net after the goalkeeper botched a clearance from Federico Dimarco's cross.
The pressure kept coming. Francesco Pio Esposito made it three in the 55th minute, turning in a Diouf cross with a clever back-heel.
Yann Bisseck rounded off the scoring in the 63rd minute, firing home from inside the area after Esposito picked him out.
Monza chased a consolation in vain. Akanji nearly grabbed a fifth in the 67th minute, only for his header to crash against the crossbar.
Cristian Chivu's side have sent an early-season warning with this result, while Monza mark their return to Serie A with a chastening defeat.