Inter's Friendly Shows Stars and Flops Ahead of Serie A Opener

Inter wrapped up their last pre‑season friendly with a 1‑0 victory over Real Betis at the San Nicola in Bari. The winning goal came from Stones, who made a memorable debut for the Italian champions. The match served as a final tune‑up before the squad heads to San Siro for the season opener against Monza on Saturday, August 23, 2026/2027.

On the positive side, Calhanoglu set the tempo and kept the ball moving, showing improvement over earlier friendlies. Barella ran like an endless engine, delivering a pinpoint pass to Bonny early on and constantly regaining possession. Bonny was involved in almost every dangerous attack, drifting left and right and creating space, though he still lacks a goal. Dimarco transformed the side whenever he entered, providing quick assists and exploiting gaps that Carlos Augusto could not. Stones paired well with Akanji, shutting down most Betis threats and finishing with a close‑range strike after Pavard’s header.

The flip side was equally clear. Carlos Augusto struggled in his wing‑back role, rarely making first‑time runs and appearing out of sync against Antony, who became a constant threat. Zielinski played at a steady pace without accelerating, failing to support the flanks effectively. Pio Esposito looked heavy and slow, often arriving late to crosses, while Diouf appeared drained, unable to beat defenders or generate the bursts Chivu expected from the right wing.

Overall, the friendly highlighted Inter’s potential and its current weaknesses. The Italian champions will need to sharpen the struggling players and keep the momentum of their standout performers as they prepare for the competitive Serie A season.