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Inter begin Serie A title defence against Monza as Chivu names starting XI
Inter Milan, coached by Cristi Chivu, open their Serie A title defence at home against newly promoted Monza, with the Italian champions expected to face a sold-out San Siro.
By George Kensington · 3 min read
Inter Milan begin the defence of their Serie A title on Saturday evening when they host newly promoted Monza at the San Siro, with head coach Cristi Chivu naming his starting lineup for the opening fixture of the 2026-27 season. The Italian champions are strong favourites against a Monza side that earned promotion last term, and the match is set to be played in front of a capacity crowd, with Italian media reporting that more than 70,000 supporters are expected at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Chivu, who led Inter to the Scudetto in his first full season in charge, has selected a strong first eleven for the encounter. Yann Sommer starts in goal, protected by a back three of Alessandro Bastoni, Manuel Akanji and Yann Bisseck. The midfield features Federico Dimarco, Piotr Zielinski, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella and Ibrahima Diouf, with Lautaro Martinez and Sebastiano Esposito leading the attack. The bench includes the likes of Benjamin Pavard, Marcus Thuram, Kristjan Asllani and Carlos Augusto, offering Chivu considerable options should he need to change the game.
Monza, returning to the top flight after a season in Serie B, face a daunting task on the opening weekend. The club have strengthened during the summer but will be aware of the size of the challenge posed by a settled Inter side that conceded the fewest goals in the division last season. The match kicks off at 19:30 local time and is being broadcast live on Prima Sport 3 and Digi Sport 2 in Romania.
The fixture is one of four Serie A matches scheduled for Saturday, with Udinese hosting Como at the same time, while Genoa, owned by Romanian businessman Dan Șucu, face Napoli at home in the evening. Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi has included goalkeeper Franz Stolz in his squad for that match; Stolz spent last season on loan at Rapid Bucharest. Later on Monday, Fiorentina travel to the Stadio Olimpico to face AS Roma, with Radu Drăgușin expected to feature for the Viola.
Inter will be aiming to make an immediate statement of intent in their pursuit of a second consecutive title, and Chivu will be keen to avoid any early slip-up against a side many expect to struggle. The Romanian coach has repeatedly stressed the importance of starting strongly, and Saturday's match offers him the chance to lay down a marker in front of a home crowd that has grown accustomed to success under his leadership.
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