The evening began with Monza igniting the home crowd. In the 32nd minute, Gianluca Caprari sent a precise cross into the box, where Patrick Ciurria finished coolly to give Monza an early lead. The stadium erupted, sensing an upset could be on the cards. But Inter, as ever, refused to buckle under pressure. Just before halftime, fortune swung their way. A dangerous ball into the area ricocheted off Samuele Birindelli and found its way into the Monza net — an own goal that leveled the score and shifted the momentum.
After the break, Inter’s determination surfaced. In the 52nd minute, Matteo Darmian surged forward and teed up Francesco Pio Esposito, who unleashed a blistering shot from outside the area to put Inter ahead. The visitors, led by coach Cristian Chivu, looked to be cruising, but Monza were not done yet. With just a minute to go before the final whistle, Paulo Azzi hammered home an equalizer after a spell of intense Monza pressure, sending the match into a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
From the spot, both sides displayed nerves of steel at first. Lautaro Martínez, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, and Francesco Acerbi all converted for Inter, while Nicolas Galazzi and Silvère Ganvoula responded in kind for Monza. But when Jacopo Sardo’s effort was saved by Inter’s keeper, the pendulum swung decisively. Marcus Thuram stepped up and dispatched the winning penalty, sealing Inter’s 5-3 triumph in the shootout.
This result continues Inter’s recent dominance in their head-to-head with Monza, with three wins, one draw, and only a single defeat in their last five meetings (Monza vs Inter live stats). For Monza, whose preseason has been turbulent with four losses and just one win, this match offered glimpses of the fighting spirit they’ll need in Serie B. Meanwhile, Inter’s preseason momentum grows, their attacking depth and resilience on display ahead of their Serie A kickoff on August 25th.
Chivu’s post-match comments echoed the unity and ambition that define Inter: “We’re starting with the right spirit to remain a competitive team; that’s our goal. The expectations are the same as always — to be aggressive, maintain balance, and always strive for the top.” New Monza boss Paolo Bianco, meanwhile, will look to build on this battling performance as his squad gears up for a campaign of redemption.
With the curtain falling on this friendly, fans of both clubs will be left with memories of a match filled with intensity, drama, and the promise of exciting football ahead. For more on the Nerazzurri’s preseason form, check out Monza vs Inter: everything you need to know about the Nerazzurri friendly.