Lautaro Martínez Edges Closer to Inter Milan Scoring Milestones in Serie A Triumph
Argentinian striker Lautaro Martínez, a World Cup champion, continues to etch his name into Inter Milan's storied history. On Sunday, he found the net once more, propelling league leaders Inter to a commanding 2-0 away victory against Cremonese in Serie A. This crucial goal marked his 170th for the club, placing him just one behind the legendary Roberto Boninsegna, who occupies third place on Inter's all-time scorers list. Only the iconic figures of Alessandro Altobelli, with 209 goals, and Giuseppe Meazza, with a remarkable 284, stand ahead of him in this prestigious ranking.
Martínez's Prolific Form and Personal Touch
Lautaro's recent form has been nothing short of spectacular, netting 10 times in his last 13 league appearances. This surge brings his Serie A tally to an impressive 128 goals, leaving him merely 10 shy of Benito Lorenzi, who holds second place among Inter's top scorers in the league. Meazza also leads this category with 197 league goals. The 28-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a powerful header from a corner. In a heartfelt moment, he celebrated by lifting his jersey to reveal a birthday message dedicated to his daughter, adding a personal touch to his professional achievement.
Inter doubled their advantage in the 31st minute thanks to a stunning long-range effort from Piotr Zielinski. His fierce strike from approximately 30 yards out swerved unexpectedly in mid-air, catching Cremonese goalkeeper Emil Audero off guard and slipping through his arms. The match faced an unexpected interruption early in the second half when Audero was struck by a flare thrown by away supporters. Play was halted for three minutes as medical staff attended to the goalkeeper, who sustained a cut on his right leg and reported hearing issues in his right ear. Despite the incident, Audero bravely continued, showcasing his resilience.
Inter Extends Lead as Juventus and Atalanta Secure Results
With this victory, Inter Milan has extended its lead at the top of Serie A to eight points over second-placed AC Milan, who are set to face Bologna on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Juventus delivered another impressive performance under coach Luciano Spalletti, mirroring the attacking flair he instilled in Napoli during their 2023 title-winning campaign. Following a dominant 3-0 win over Napoli last weekend, Juventus cruised to a 4-1 victory at Parma. Bremer was the standout performer, scoring twice, while United States international Weston McKennie also got on the scoresheet. Canada's Jonathan David capped off the scoring with his fourth goal in five matches, highlighting his fine form.
Parma managed a brief consolation with a comical own-goal from Juventus midfielder Andrea Cambiaso, who inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net while attempting a clearance. This result sees Juventus climb to fourth place in the standings, two points clear of Roma, who have a match in hand against Udinese on Monday.
In another notable fixture, Atalanta displayed remarkable tenacity to secure a 0-0 draw at Como, despite playing almost the entire match with only 10 men. The game began dramatically when Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor received a straight red card less than eight minutes in for shoving Como midfielder Máximo Perrone in the face following an off-the-ball altercation. Como had a golden opportunity to clinch victory deep into stoppage time after being awarded a penalty for Giorgio Scalvini's handball. However, Nico Paz, who had missed his previous two spot kicks, saw his weak and central effort saved by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi in the 98th minute, preserving the draw.
Como remains in sixth place, one position and five points above Atalanta in the league table. Earlier in the day, Torino secured a narrow 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Lecce, adding to the day's Serie A drama.
