Inter bounced back from an unconvincing first half to beat Monza 4-1, with stunning goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito, on the evening of John Stones’ debut.

The Nerazzurri completed the domestic Double last season and were keen to begin well. However, none of their new signings were ready to start this match, with only John Stones named on the bench, while Djed Spence and Curtis Jones were presented to the supporters.

At Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on 22 August 2026, John Stones of Internazionale was seen before the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was suspended, but Lautaro Martinez started on his 29th birthday. Monza were without Matteo Pessina, Patrick Ciurria, Leonardo Colombo, Ebeneezer Akinsanmiro and Idrissa Touré, while Dany Mota Carvalho and Demba Thiam were suspended, and Patrick Cutrone was not fully fit.

Cristian Chivu, head coach of Internazionale, looked on before the Serie A fixture between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on 22 August 2026.

The opening goal of the season was a beauty. Francesco Pio Esposito used his strength to hold off a defender, then Andy Diouf pulled the ball back for Calhanoglu, who smashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net from 25 yards.

Nicolò Barella’s curling right-foot attempt shaved the top of the bar, but Monza levelled when Gustavo Varela collected the through ball from Mathis Mout and used his body well to turn Manuel Akanji before firing an angled shot into the far bottom corner. Varela had also scored twice on his Coppa Italia debut, so he was already beginning to look like an excellent signing.

Gustavo Varela of Monza scored his side’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on 22 August 2026 in Milan.

Inter went back in front soon after the restart when Samuele Pizzignacco badly misjudged his punch on Federico Dimarco’s cross following a corner, allowing Piotr Zielinski to sweep home the loose ball from the edge of the box.

Mangas nearly put Josep Martinez under pressure with an aggressive high press, but Esposito then produced another superb finish, meeting Diouf’s cut-back from the by-line with an audacious back-heel flick at the near post, really the only way he could score from that angle.

Esposito also provided an assist later on, once again holding the ball up well from Petar Sucic’s pass to send Yann Bisseck charging through the middle, and he beat Pizzignacco with the help of a slight deflection off a shinpad.

Yann Aurel Bisseck of Internazionale celebrated after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on 22 August 2026 in Milan.

Manuel Akanji nearly made it 5-1 when his header from a Federico Dimarco corner crashed against the crossbar, and there was still time for John Stones to come on for his Inter debut.

Calhanoglu 6 (I), Varela 29 (M), Zielinski 48 (I), Esposito 55 (I), Bisseck 63 (I)