Inter Open Serie A Title Defence With 4-1 Win Over Monza

Inter began their Serie A title defence with a 4-1 victory over promoted Monza at San Siro. The Guardian, citing reporting from Reuters and AFP, said the champions pulled away after half-time following a first period in which the visitors recovered from an early setback and went into the interval level.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfsGLdwW_Yc

Hakan Calhanoglu gave Inter the lead in the sixth minute, providing the hosts with an immediate advantage in their opening league match. Monza responded before the half-hour mark through Gustavo Varela. That equaliser left the score at 1-1 at the break and kept the promoted side in contention despite Inter's fast start.

Inter regained the lead three minutes into the second half when Piotr Zielinski scored. Pio Esposito and Yann Bisseck then added further goals as Cristian Chivu's side converted a close match into a comfortable final margin. The three second-half goals completed a 4-1 result and ensured Inter started the new campaign with a home win.

The match also brought an Inter debut for England defender John Stones, who entered as a substitute. Fellow English players Djed Spence and Curtis Jones, both identified by The Guardian as recent Inter signings, watched from the stands at San Siro. The report did not specify when Stones entered the match.

Elsewhere in the opening Serie A programme, Udinese and Como drew 1-1 at Udinese's ground. The result meant neither side joined Inter in taking all three points from the early Italian fixtures covered in the report. Last season's runners-up Napoli were scheduled to visit Genoa later on Saturday.

In France, Lens opened their Ligue 1 season with a 5-2 victory over Auxerre. Captain Florian Thauvin scored two penalties, converting one on each side of half-time, while Auxerre defender Christ Makosso was sent off in the first half for a foul on Lens attacker Abdallah Sima. The result continued Lens's winning start under Dino Toppmoller after the club beat Paris Saint-Germain in the French Champions Trophy the previous weekend.