Lautaro Martinez proved once again why he is Inter Milan’s talisman, firing the Nerazzurri six points clear at the summit of Serie A with a clinical 1-0 victory at Udinese. The Argentine skipper expertly poked home the winner in the 20th minute, extending Inter’s unbeaten league run to nine matches ahead of a massive Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Under Cristian Chivu, Inter have adopted a high-pressing identity that stifled the hosts from start to finish. “What we’re displaying is a testament to the desire of these players,” Chivu told DAZN, praising the courage of his defenders in maintaining a high line while the forwards trigger the trap.
The league leaders have been ruthless against smaller opposition, collecting 25 points from a possible 27 since late November. This consistency stands in stark contrast to local rivals AC Milan and Napoli, both of whom have frequently dropped points in fixtures they were expected to dominate.
Napoli finally halted their own slide, snapping a run of three straight draws with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo thanks to Stanislav Lobotka’s first goal in over three years. The Slovakian midfielder smashed home a rebound in the seventh minute, keeping the champions level on 43 points with second-placed Milan.
However, Antonio Conte’s side faces a growing crisis as Eljif Elmas, Amir Rrahmani, and Matteo Politano all suffered knocks during the contest. With a crucial European trip to Copenhagen looming, the injury-stricken holders are beginning to look stretched thin in their pursuit of the relentless Inter.
