Inter begin title defence with stylish 4-1 win over Monza

Inter Milan kicked off their Serie A title defence with a 4-1 home win over Monza on Saturday, after the promoted side recovered from conceding an early goal ⁠to go in level ⁠at the break before the champions turned on the style.

Inter looked set for a routine win after taking a sixth minute lead. Andy Diouf ⁠laid the ball back and Hakan Calhanoglu thumped a first-time effort from well outside the area into the roof of the net, but Monza stunned the San Siro with an equaliser just before the half hour mark.

Gustavo Varela collected a pass from Mathis Mout with his back to goal on the edge of the area, turned Manuel Akanji and fired low into the ⁠far ⁠bottom corner to score on his Serie A debut.

Varela signed from Benfica in July and the 21-year-old has made an immediate impact, netting twice on his Monza debut in a 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Avellino last week.

Inter went back in front three minutes after the break when Monza's Semuel Pizzignacco punched away ⁠Federico Dimarco's cross and the ball fell to Piotr Zielinski who smacked his shot into the turf and over the stranded keeper.

Inter were in no mood to allow Monza back in a second time and eight minutes later Pio Esposito sent a clever back-heeled flick past Pizzignacco, with ⁠Diouf ‌providing another ‌assist.

Yann Bisseck's deflected shot sent Inter ⁠further ahead and Akanji hit the ‌bar with a header as the hosts threatened to run riot.

England defender John Stones replaced ⁠Akanji to make his Inter debut, ⁠with compatriots and fellow recent signings Djed Spence and Curtis ⁠Jones watching on at San Siro. Last season's runners-up Napoli visit Genoa later on Saturday.