Inter open the defence of their Serie A crown at home to Monza on Saturday 22 August, with kick-off at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza set for 5:30pm UK time.
It’s Matchweek 1 of the 2026-27 season, and the fixture pairs the reigning champions against a Monza side returning to the top flight at the first attempt after relegation.
With Cristian Chivu newly bedded in for a first full season in the Inter dugout, and Monza back in Milan for the first time since their promotion was confirmed, there’s plenty of fresh context to unpack before a ball is kicked.
Inter v Monza Match Details And Kick-Off Time
Competition: Serie A 2026-27, Matchweek 1. Date: Saturday 22 August 2026. Kick-off: 5:30pm UK time. Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan.
Inter’s Title-Winning Form Heading Into Monza Clash
Inter arrive as Serie A champions, having finished top of the table in 2025-26 with 87 points from 38 games.
They clinched the title with three matches to spare and closed the campaign on an eight-match unbeaten run, a stretch that underlines the control Chivu’s side had over the closing months.
Their last five league matches of that campaign read draw, win, win, draw, draw, and they signed off with a 3-3 draw away at Bologna.
Pre-season under Chivu has shown flashes of that same steel. Inter won on penalties against Manchester City, beat Karlsruher SC, and edged Juventus 2-1 on 8 August, sandwiched around a 1-1 draw with AC Milan.
Monza’s Route Back To Serie A Under Paolo Bianco
Monza return to Serie A after finishing third in Serie B in 2025-26 under head coach Paolo Bianco, posting 76 points from 38 games.
Finishing third wasn’t enough for automatic promotion. Monza had to go through the play-offs, where they met fifth-placed Catanzaro in the final.
The tie finished level on aggregate at 2-2, with Monza winning the first leg 2-0 before a 0-2 defeat in the return. Promotion went their way on the strength of their superior regular-season finish, sealing an immediate return to the top flight.
In pre-season, Monza have shown attacking spark, winning 4-3 against Pro Vercelli and 2-0 against Galatasaray, though they also lost 1-3 to Aris Thessalonikis and most recently drew 3-3 with Padova on 7 August.
Inter And Monza’s Recent Head-To-Head Record
Monza and Inter have met six times since 7 January 2023, all in Serie A. Inter have won three, Monza one, with two draws, and Inter hold the aggregate goals edge 13-7.
The most recent meeting came on 8 March 2025, when Inter won 3-2 at San Siro. That same season also produced a 1-1 draw between the sides in September 2024.
In 2023-24, Inter won both meetings, including a 5-1 away win in January 2024. The only Monza victory in this span came away from home, 1-0, in April 2023.
Inter Players To Watch: Martínez, Thuram, Dimarco
Lautaro Martínez top-scored for Inter in 2025-26 Serie A with 17 goals and 6 assists in 30 appearances. Marcus Thuram added 13 goals and 6 assists in 29 league games last season.
Federico Dimarco contributed 7 goals and a league-high 16 assists in 35 appearances in 2025-26.
Monza Players To Watch: Petagna, Cutrone, Pessina
Andrea Petagna was Monza’s leading scorer in 2025-26 Serie B with 9 goals and 4 assists in 31 appearances.
Patrick Cutrone, who joined from Como, scored 6 goals with 3 assists in 20 Serie B games for Monza last season.
Matteo Pessina was an ever-present for the club, starting all 37 of his appearances and scoring 5 goals in 2025-26 Serie B.
Inter v Monza Prediction And What To Expect
On the balance of recent history, Inter’s status as champions and their record of three wins from the last six meetings with Monza point to a match Chivu’s side will be expected to dominate for spells.
That’s especially true given the firepower of Martínez, Thuram and Dimarco in the final third.
Monza arrive with momentum from a Serie B campaign that yielded 61 goals and a squad containing proven Serie A performers in Cutrone and Petagna, suggesting they won’t simply sit back.
Inter’s title defence didn’t come through blowout after blowout in the closing weeks, and Monza have shown they can score goals in bunches during pre-season.
That combination suggests a competitive opening test for the champions rather than a formality, even allowing for the gulf in recent top-flight experience between the two clubs.
Inter
- Lautaro Martínez (No. 10, attacker) top-scored for Inter in 2025-26 Serie A with 17 goals and 6 assists in 30 appearances.
- Marcus Thuram (No. 9, attacker) added 13 goals and 6 assists in 29 league games last season.
- Federico Dimarco (No. 32, defender) contributed 7 goals and a league-high 16 assists in 35 appearances in 2025-26.
Monza
- Andrea Petagna (No. 37, attacker) was Monza’s leading scorer in 2025-26 Serie B with 9 goals and 4 assists in 31 appearances.
- Patrick Cutrone (No. 10, attacker), who joined from Como, scored 6 goals with 3 assists in 20 Serie B games for Monza last season.
- Matteo Pessina (No. 32, midfielder) was an ever-present for Monza, starting all 37 of his appearances and scoring 5 goals in 2025-26 Serie B.
