Champions Inter dominate Monza in Serie A opener

Inter Milan launched their Serie A title defence with a 4-1 opening-day win against newly promoted Monza at San Siro.

Monza's Portuguese forward Gustavo Varela cancelled out Hakan Calhanoglu's early opener for Inter before the break, but second-half goals from Piotr Zielinski, Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Bisseck ensured a comfortable afternoon for the champions.

It was also a winning start for England defender John Stones, who made his Inter debut as a second-half substitute.

Two more English summer signings, Curtis Jones and Djed Spence, were not included in Cristian Chivu's squad, but with Stones on the bench, Inter made an ideal start.

Andy Diouf teed up Calhanoglu on the edge of the box and the Turkey midfielder lashed a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Nicolò Barella went close to doubling Inter's lead before Monza stunned the home fans by scoring with their first attempt on goal, with Varela drilling an angled finish into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area in the 29th minute.

Varela then headed wide before Inter twice threatened to regain the lead through Federico Dimarco and Esposito, while Barella blazed another chance over before the interval.

Inter made another fast start to the second half, scoring twice in seven minutes to take control.

Zielinski buried a loose ball following a corner three minutes after the restart and Esposito swept home from close range following another assist from Diouf.

Esposito then turned provider, setting up Bisseck to fire into the top corner from the centre of the box for Inter's fourth goal in the 63rd minute.

Manuel Akanji headed Dimarco's cross against the bar soon after as Monza became more ragged.

Stones stepped off the bench to replace Akanji for his Serie A debut in the 75th minute before Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez produced a low save to keep out Samuele Birindelli's low effort.

Nicolas Galazzi pulled another effort on goal for Monza wide as the home side took their foot off the gas, while Esposito spurned the chance of his second and Inter's fifth when he headed wide in time added on.