“Non mi aspettavo di giocare, ho cercato di dare il mio contributo. Non avevo capito molto sull’azione del rigore, ma l’importante è che abbiamo vinto,” Matteo Lavelli said after stepping off the San Siro pitch, visibly moved by an extraordinary sequence that turned a routine weekend into a professional milestone.
At nineteen years old, the young forward proved decisive for Inter Milan in a frantic 2-1 Serie A victory over Fiorentina on October 25, 2026, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. Just a day after playing an hour for the Under-23 side in a 1-1 home draw against Sorrento, Lavelli entered the senior match in the final five minutes. His crucial headed flick deep into stoppage time paved the way for Piotr Zielinski to convert a 97th-minute penalty, handing coach Cristian Chivu’s side their fifth league comeback win of the season.
How Matteo Lavelli Earned the Crucial Stoppage-Time Penalty
The fixture at San Siro seemed destined to slip away from the Nerazzurri after Fiorentina claimed the lead through a long-range strike. However, Inter kept pushing down the flanks to crowd the penalty area. Chivu turned to his bench, introducing Lavelli in the 85th minute to inject fresh energy into a frustrated attack. Deep into added time, the teenager rose to glance a cross onward, triggering the frantic goalmouth scramble that ultimately drew the decisive foul.
Source 4 noted that Inter has now accumulated 13 points from losing positions in Serie A this campaign, leading the top five European leagues in late recoveries. Source 5 highlighted that Chivu celebrated his upcoming birthday with immense relief, admitting he hoped Zielinski would score the spot-kick while he was consumed by the team’s effort throughout the match.
85’: Final substitution.ON:Matteo LavelliOFF:Nicolò Barella#Inter 0-1 Fiorentina
Cristian Chivu Refuses to Look at Identity Documents
“Non guardo la carta d’identità né con Mkhitaryan né con Lavelli,” Chivu told reporters. “A volte non è semplice arrivare in squadra e non tutto va come si vorrebbe: loro devono farsi trovare pronti. Martedì andrà con l’ Under23, oggi ha fatto bene ma è presto per dire qualcosa.”
The coach also praised Marcus Thuram, who scored the equalizer and earned the penalty before Zielinski stepped up to seal the victory. Chivu admitted uncertainty over whether Thuram’s recent maturity stems from his own guidance or from Zidane.
From Right-Back Beginnings to Overcoming a Life-Threatening Illness
Lavelli’s journey to the Serie A stage carries remarkable personal context. Born in Bernareggio, Brianza, the player nicknamed “Pocho” due to his phonetic similarity to Ezequiel Lavezzi actually started out as an attack-minded right-back during his early youth games at the local parish oratory. His father, Diego, played in Serie C and now works as a scout.
The forward’s career faced a severe threat in 2024 when he contracted meningitis, requiring a month-long hospital stay that delayed his pre-season preparations with the Primavera squad. Despite that frightening hurdle, he recovered to win the Primavera championship later that year—contributing four goals and a decisive assist in the final—before logging 30 appearances in Serie C and earning fleeting substitute minutes against Bologna in January 2026.
Matteo Lavelli Returns to Under-23 Side
Matteo Lavelli is expected to return to duty with the Under-23 side under coach Vecchi, while the senior squad continues preparations for their next domestic test as they seek to maintain momentum at the top of the table.
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