The champion begins title defense at home: prediction for Inter vs Monza
The opening matchday of the Italian championship between Inter and Monza will take place on August 22, 2026, at the San Siro stadium in Milan. The reigning Serie A champions kick off their title defense against a newly promoted side, who have returned to the top flight just one season after relegation.
Inter: the champion's squad just got deeper
Last season was nearly flawless for Inter: Cristian Chivu's side clinched the title with an 11-point cushion over Napoli and added the Coppa Italia to their Scudetto triumph. This summer, the Nerazzurri continued to strengthen, signing John Stones and Jed Spence, and enjoyed a confident preseason, including penalty shootout wins over both Juventus and Manchester City.
Inter were particularly dominant at home - winning 14 out of 19 home fixtures last season. Up front, much will once again depend on Lautaro Martínez, who netted 17 Serie A goals and has already scored five times in six league meetings against Monza.
Monza: a tough return starts with the hardest away trip
Monza finished third in Serie B and earned promotion through the playoffs, ousting Catanzaro thanks to their higher regular season position after a 2-2 aggregate draw. After the campaign, Ivan Jurić took charge, replacing Paolo Bianco at the helm.
The visitors had a decent preseason and wrapped up their last official match with a resounding 3-0 win over Avellino in the Coppa Italia. However, they'll head to Milan without their injured captain Matteo Pessina, while Dany Mota and Demba Thiam will miss the clash due to suspensions.
Match facts and head-to-head stats
- Inter won 14 of their 19 home matches in Serie A last season.
- Lautaro Martínez has scored five goals in six league matches against Monza.
- Monza's only win in six Serie A visits to San Siro came against Inter - a 1-0 victory in April 2023.
The difference in class should be clear from the opening round: Inter vs Monza prediction
Inter have kept their championship core, strengthened key positions, and approach the season opener in excellent shape. On home turf, Chivu's team should seize the initiative from the outset and cause serious problems for the newcomers.
Monza have prepared well, but the level of opposition here is on another level entirely. Taking into account the visitors' personnel issues and the hosts' firepower, a confident victory for the defending champions looks the most logical outcome.
