Manuel Akanji defended Inter against claims that they perform differently in Serie A than in the Champions League after the league leaders continued their winning streak.

Inter earned a 2-0 victory over Lecce thanks to late goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Akanji to make it seven wins on the bounce in Serie A.

That form has led to them opening a 10-point lead over rivals AC Milan at the top of the table.

However, it is a vast difference from what they have shown in the Champions League. They slipped into the play-offs after suffering three defeats in the league phase and are on the brink of an exit after a shock 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt in the first leg.

But Akanji insisted Inter give their all no matter which competition they are in as they continue to fight for trophies on three fronts.

"I don't think there's two different Inters," he told DAZN Italia. "The games we lost in the Champions League, most of them at least, were against big teams.

"We have the chance to turn it around with Bodo/Glimt in a few days.

"Sometimes it works better, sometimes a bit less. I know before people would say we didn't win big games, now they say we are two different teams in Europe and Italy, but we always try to do our best."

Akanji was also full of praise for Federico Dimarco, who set up his 82nd-minute goal, with the full-back assisting for the fifth game on the spin.

Dimarco has now provided 13 assists in 24 Serie A appearances so far this term.

"I am trying to think of all the team-mates I've had, but he's definitely in the top three," Akanji said when asked where Dimarco's left foot ranked among the players he has worked with.

"Dimarco has so many assists already, he might be the best, but I don't want to say anything other than that to not discredit anyone else. He's amazing."

Inter had 14 shots in the first half without scoring, but they were more clinical in the second half to earn a ninth straight away victory.

"We wanted to make the most of the set plays, as we took a lot of them, and it's a pity we didn't do them better in the first half," coach Cristian Chivu told DAZN Italia.

"We've got players who know how to attack the space, but above all, an extraordinary left foot from Fede, who knows how to put the ball in."

And Chivu also remains confident Inter can turn around their Champions League tie in the second leg at San Siro this week, adding: "We are aware of the difficulties that we have to earn everything on the pitch and can take nothing for granted.

"Now we have the second leg at home on Tuesday, we must be the best version of ourselves, because the qualification is still wide open. Nothing is decided yet."