Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Josep Martinez in goal and Francesco Pio Esposito in attack against Sassuolo, benching captain Lautaro Martinez. This evening’s Serie A Match Day 4 clash kicks off at 20:45 CET at San Siro.
Inter welcome the Neroverdi to their home as both team’s look for greater consistency.
Both Inter and Sassuolo come into the match with just three points to their name so far this season.
Chivu’s side last won in the league in their opening game 5-0 victory over Torino.
1️⃣1️⃣⚫🔵 in campo per #InterSassuolo 🏟️
Fatevi sentire tifosi interisti 👇Powered by @play_eFootball#ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/JJTlEbSo13
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) September 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Sassuolo’s first win of the season came last weekend with an impressive 1-0 win against Lazio. Chivu has a full squad available to him for Inter.
However, his counterpart Fabio Grosso misses just one player in Yeferson Paz.
Inter Milan Vs Sassuolo – Josep Martinez Makes First Start Of The Season
Firstly, the situation surrounding Inter’s goalkeepers is a fascinating one.
After the Nerazzurri’s 4-3 defeat to Juventus last weekend, Swiss keeper Yann Sommer faced criticism.
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝑿𝑰 🖤💚#InterSassuolo#ForzaSasol pic.twitter.com/ePqy4CzUk8
— U.S. Sassuolo (@SassuoloUS) September 21, 2025
The Inter player did not make a single save and conceded two long-range efforts from the Bianconeri.
Therefore, fans and press called for Josep Martinez to come into the team but Chivu chose not to and Sommer repaid his coach’s faith with a stellar performance.
However, the Spaniard will finally get his chance in goal today as he makes his first appearance of the season.
Chivu Brings Sucic Back Into XI, Pio Esposito Keeps Place Ahead Of Lautaro
Secondly, Summer signing Petar Sucic returns to the starting eleven today.
The Croatian, who signed in the summer from Dinamo Zagreb, was strong in the opening two games of the season.
However, Chivu replaced Sucic with Mkhitaryan after the international break.
Now, Sucic returns, given the nod ahead of Mkhitaryan and Davide Frattesi, the latter yet to play a minute in the league this season.
Meanwhile, another question mark prior to the game was around club captain Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine missed the win over Ajax due to back pain and returned to full training yesterday.
Subsequently, It was touch-and-go as to whether Chivu would risk his star forward or play it safe and keep his faith in youngster Francesco Pio Esposito.
Furthermore, Esposito impressed in his Champions League debut against Ajax and looks like a solid partner for in-form Marcus Thuram.
Official Starting Lineups – Inter Milan vs Sassuolo: Josep Martinez & Petar Sucic Start As Lautaro Martinez Rested
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Josep Martinez; Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, Carlos Augusto; Denzel Dumfries, Petar Sucic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito
Substitutes: Sommer, Di Gennaro, De Vrij, Bisseck, Bastoni, Palacios, Darmian, Luis Henrique, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Frattesi, Diouf, Bonny, Lautaro
Coach: Cristian Chivu
Suspended: N/A
Unavailable: N/A
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric; Coulibaly, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Vranckx, Matic, Kone; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente
Substitutes: Satalino, Turati, Cande, Volpato, Cheddira, Boloca, Pieragnolo, Romagna, Fadera, Moro, Odenthal, Lipani, Thorstvedt, Iannoni, Pierini.
Coach: Fabio Grosso
Suspended: N/A
Unavailable: Paz
Important three points.
Ok, first of all Sassuolo has always been an black cat for Inter. Thank God we won. However, if we cannot control the opponents like Sassuolo or Udinese we are fucked on the long term this season. Next opponent is very hard Cagliari in Sicily. Someone said we dont have an identity yet, absolutelly agree. Ffs play with 3421 if you already played like that at Parma or play 41212 diamond like Mourinho played. We have the best attack, however we are the third worst defense after 4 games with 7 conceded goals. Very worrying. Buddy Chivu you either compact this crap of a defense more together with a destroyer DMF to help out, our you cut loose this 3 man defense cuz it aint helping at all. Martinez-Dumfries,Akanji,Bastoni,Dimarco-Sucic-Barella, Calhanoglu-Fratessi-Lautaro-Thuram or 3421 with Thuram as a shadow striker. Look how Xabi Alonso play adapting to the players what he have. This Inzaghis 3-5-2 everybody read already. We hope for the better. Full thrust in Chivu still, if he finds a way to concede less goals. The choice is his. If he continues to play like this even attacking play wont help him to be sacked, cuz many teams will wait, tire our midlefield and destroy us on the counter. Forza Inter.
Not after I suddenly had a black cat on my doorstep, of course he got a black and blue collar. All black cats are now Interista
Juventus at Juventus is always tricky too, even in our most dominant periods we often don’t win there, a draw is a good result and should’ve been the result in the derby ditalia, hopefully they get some karma from us later in the season.
pio just needs a goal. he’s gonna be our haaland!! (and he needs to increase speed too..)
inter should contract domenico berardi as he looks good today.
Welcome 3 points again.. but I am going to say this again… we still do not have an identity. there’s a lot of hopeful football happening. there could have been a penalty in the 93rd min which would have broken hearts. Chivu really needs to put in some more work. he’s trying to play Inzaghis tactics, without the experience. playing with fire!
Agree
Yea, Chivu really need to make changes to play his football rather than making small changes from Inzaghis. I can see some good changes but I think I would like to see more drastic change as it feels like we are neither this or that at this point. Lets move away from 3-5-2 and have a back 4 with some wingers. Henrique showed what he can do as a winger today.
I understand, the pressure of playing 3 games a week for a brand new manager can be daunting. and taking over a big club like inter with huge expectations can be challenging. I hope what I am seeing is teething problems, and chivu will get it right.. but my main worry is whether he will receive the support from our management, I feel he was a scapegoat hire.. when the season goes tits up, they will blame chivu and fire him, and not reflect on the $hit transfer window we had.
Inter created a lot of chances to score at least 4-5 goals. But the main issue is the same even before the season started and Chivu took the job which is defence. Inter are not comfortable defending so scoring lots of goals becomes so crucial. This match however there was nothing more Chivu could do because for the most part Inter were 1-0 he kept pushing for the second goal
Agree.. inter created chances.. but there does not seem to be a clear game plan. it looks like a mad house out there.. Thuram was out playing on the rt wing for sometime etc. what I am trying to say, is it is unclear what chivu wants from the players.. it’s like everyone run forward and go score…I mean that is not a bad plan (lol) but it can bite us when teams sit deep, and who have fast players who can counter… like udine and merda.
if you can’t see the game plan you are too old to remember football from the 90s 00s….
Its very clear how Inter are going to play and until Chivu gets a fast CB then we will sometimes struggle in defence because we don’t have the speed.
But our general play is much for fun to watch than the last few years for sure. We have dominated possession and shots in every game this season so the fundamentals are there to win games.
Agree, the fundamentals are there. The team plays an attacking style without Inzaghi’s continuous backpassing. Such changes need their time and Chivu should be allowed to work without too much pressure.
Henrique was really good, can’t understand the hate !
Frattesi needs to start, and then take him out when we need to defend, Martinez without mistake, I hope he continues like this. Overall good performance, we dominated, had chances, missed them, should’ve scored more. Feeling sorry for Pio for not scoring he deserved it. Only down was again the lack of creativity in midfield, Akanji had more dangerous passes forward then Barella, Hakan and Sucic combined. Like the subs from Chivu and coruage. Forza Inter !!
won’t say really good, I think not bad is the word you are looking for! he’s still miles off Dumfries’ level. akanji and agusto both played well.
I never had opinion of Dumfries as a world star, or like a really great player. I love him, bit he plays RWB, but can’t dribble nor cross, on the other hand he is strong and has heading on high levels, scores often. Henrique is just the counter of that, I wouldn’t say miles away.
He is unfortunately.. at his age, to be a wb henrique should be taking on players for fun.. he’s not yet there.. I hope he can prove me wrong of course.
But neither is Dumfries, never was, nevet will be, our right side is weakness for years now, and Dumfries performed only scoring 2-3 impottant goals, comming good crosses from the left offcourse 😀
Augusto had a beast performance
I don’t understand the offiside rules but at least Inter won. It should be clear Sassuolo are always dangerous and their keeper today was acting like peak Manuel Neuer rushing toward the ball and making one save after another
I’ll take that! Let’s not forget that Sasuollo are the ultimate bogey team!! We’re a work in progress for sure, but I’m happy to see something different…. J. Martinez, Akanji, Sucic, Pio, Henrique, Bonny and even Frattesi…. Good to see Chivu trying out the new players!! 3 points in the bag, and we move forward….
Sucic is so good today. Pio was great, and Josep Martinez is a very solid starter
boring match, the game was too slow in 2nd half.
I don’t think you watched the same match. It was tense not boring in fact a boring match with Inter winning by 2+ goals would be great.
I couldn’t see hunger in 2nd half. game play went slow like they just waiting the game to end. Like they not try they best.
This team ls full of idiots, like low iq players.
Good hands… Good save!
Berradi is down and we almost stop play so he can come back into play. Team is so stupid
How was that offside??? Clearly came off the defender????
Wtf ??!?!
Ball comes off defender….. so he can’t be offside.
CORRUPTION!!!!
Ofc we make it hard for ourselves
Fucking useless
“That’s it boys we won”
Wake up!!!!!!!
2-1
Time for Diouf to get some minutes.
Augusto deserves that! He’s been great tonight!! Had me wondering about an Akanji, Bastoni, Augusto back 3……
This! ⬆️ ⬆️ ⬆️
Inglese Ultra I agree! Needs to happen asap!
Just like Pio, Augusto wanted to score in this match. Inter showed an overall hungry performance
2-0
with this team we are at the level of Bologna.
Finally a deflection goes our way
ok BOB
I like JMartinez and Pio today
Esposito is banging tonight
Martinez on fire !!!
Respect for Chivu getting Thuram out, Pio was more active, created more chances for team mates amd himself
Interesting Attacking substitutes… I Like It!!!
Pio doing everything for that goal
We are such a difficult watch atm
That lauriente looks like he could have been a cut price plan b to lookman.
We NEED a player like that
I like the cheddira guy too..
Great save Martinez!!
Dumfries is hurt and needs to be sat down
Fuckass ref
Time for Henrique
We need badly second goal.
Reasonable half… fairly subdued at times, and yet we should probably be 3 up by now… Great to see DiMarco looking back to his best recently, Sucic is a baller, and Pio is a beast!! Pio has just lacked a little composure at crucial moments, but it’s hardly surprising he has a little head rush on his Serie A full debut…
My main concern is Barella! We all know what a great player he is, but if ever a player needed a few weeks rest, it’s him! Just looks like a tired, 38 year old version of himself, which is worrying….
Hoping to see more goals and more new players in the second half…. this comment also appears randomly somewhere else, due to this absolute shit show of a comments section!!
And yet he and sucic complete 11.4km this game. barella needs rest 100% but he’s everywhere.. his left sock is more useful to us than Mhiki..
Id say good first half , Pio needs to either be calmer or work on his aiming that should have been at least on target but decent game so far.
Happy Sucic is having a good game , im expecting good things from those two
Pio is not afraid to pin and hold the ball. The more he does it the more his confidence grows and the team looking for him directly. He just needs to calm it down when it comes to shooting because it’s not just about power.
say what you want, Chivu’s Inter is much mor enjoyable to watch than Simone’s team.
Dimarco got bald LOL
The team is starting to find Pio. He needs to take advantage of this.
The guys look so small near Esposito, and he is only 20. lol
Bro is like a fcking bear 😀 Too bad it didn’t end with a goal
Great attempt by Pio. Increadible hold-up play right there. Hopefully, he scores his first Serie A goal this game.
Bro cmon just out the ball lower u score
Barella judt ingoring espoito and plsying this shit 1 yard passes
He is so annoying sometimes
Its truly annoying whenever he gets mad whenever someone doesn’t pass to him or shoots
Pio is crying out for a cross from the right and barella just keeps ignoring and playign lil small passes
Ffs Hakan why?!?!
Reasonable half… fairly subdued at times, and yet we should probably be 3 up by now… Great to see DiMarco looking back to his best recently, Sucic is a baller, and Pio is a beast!! Pio has just lacked a little composure at crucial moments, but it’s hardly surprising he has a little head rush on his Serie A full debut…
My main concern is Barella! We all know what a great player he is, but if ever a player needed a few weeks rest, it’s him! Just looks like a tired, 38 year old version of himself, which is worrying….
Hoping to see more goals and more new players in the second half….
With all respect to Dumfries, but I feel we could be so much more damgerous if he would know to dribble and cross :/
Akanji on the other side, we got a great player om that side
He can kinda dribble but his crossing is not good whatsoever
Never saw him really dribble, only kicking ball forward and go on speed, but we play offensive football, those sprints are rare lol 😀
Thuram always misses those chances exactly the same way
Always scores after missing a big chance
…….lets see
In 2 years sucic will be amazing and Madrid will come calling
I want agusto to start as cb consistently but im not sure if bastoni is capable of playing in the middle
Augusto – Bastoni – Akanji sounds much better than Bastoni – Dr Vrij/Acerbi – Akanji or Bastoni – Bisseck – Akanji now that I think about it.
Yes we shouldve kept zalewski for this to work (back up lm)
Henrique can play on both sides.
Oh yeah true but chivu needs to use him
He got 5 minutes
Great link up play for Dimarco’s goal. Pio, Barella, Sucic and Dimarco did great there.
Don’t forget, started by a good pass from Akanji to Pio !
Great play overall !
Smart pass by susic!!!
What a waste of a corner.
Nice run from Carlos Augusto
Let’s go guys, mo more errors on the back pls.
Good
I’d have kept De Vrij in after his performance against Ajax, but other than that, I’m pretty happy with this line up!! Bastoni definitely needs a rest, and hopefully Sucic will be on the right of midfield, where he looked 10 times better!! Let’s hope we see Pio score his first Serie A goal today, and it would be the cherry on top if either Henrique or Diouf get some minutes…. FORZA INTER!!