Inter open title defense at home to Monza, with Chivu making his official debut

The title defense begins. It sounds simple, but it carries plenty of weight for Inter, who host Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza this Saturday, August 22, for matchday one of Serie A, facing the challenge of keeping up the level that carried them to their most recent Scudetto. Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM (Argentina/Uruguay), 12:30 PM (Chile) and 11:30 AM (Colombia/Peru/Ecuador), with live coverage across South America on Disney+'s Plan Premium.

There's more than three points on the line here. It marks the official coming out for the Nerazzurri under Cristian Chivu, the first time the club takes the field in Serie A under his charge following last season's title run. Standing in the way is a Monza side that wasted no time getting back: relegated to Serie B just a year ago, they're already back in the top flight after finishing third in the second division and earning promotion through the playoffs. Bouncing back that fast is no small feat, and it adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup beyond the final score.

Lautaro under the microscope

All eyes are on Lautaro Martinez, Inter's captain and top scorer, who arrives fresh off a 2026 World Cup of mixed results. He flashed brilliance at times, setting up a goal against Egypt and scoring against England, both in stoppage time, but he never quite locked down a starting spot with the national team. Watching him take the field again at the Meazza, wearing the shirt he's called his own since day one, will be one of the storylines to watch.

The other draw is the new faces: John Stones and Djed Spence will make their debuts, two key pieces from the English squad that finished third at the World Cup. On the other side, Monza leans on familiar Serie A names: captain Matteo Pessina, forward Patrick Cutrone, and their biggest difference maker, Dany Mota.

As for match readiness, the gap is clear. Monza already has competitive rhythm under its belt: last Friday they thrashed Avellino 3-0 in the first round of the Coppa Italia. Inter, meanwhile, have yet to play an official match, coming in off preseason friendlies against Manchester City, Milan, Juventus and Real Betis, with a record of two draws and two wins.

The recent history between these two sides holds a memorable chapter: on March 8, 2025, with Monza sitting last in the table, the Brianza side stunned Inter by racing out to a 2-0 lead, before Inter, then managed by Simone Inzaghi, turned the match around with goals from Marko Arnautovic and Hakan Calhanoglu, plus an own goal from Georgios Kyriakopoulos, to seal a nail-biting 3-2 comeback. They haven't met since, and this time the context couldn't be more different: one side is defending a crown, the other is out to prove its promotion was no fluke.