Lautaro Martínez Double Ensures Inter Milan in Pursuit of Frontrunners
Inter forward Lautaro Martínez scored a late brace to earn his team a 2-0 win at Pisa, ensuring the visitors very much engaged in the Serie A title race in spite of a somewhat shaky performance.
League Table Overview
Led by manager Cristian Chivu, Inter currently sit third in the table with 27 points, level with second-placed Roma and only one point behind leaders Milan. In contrast, Pisa occupy the third bottom spot with 10 points.
Game Recap
Inter traveled in Tuscany aiming to return to winning ways after enduring a loss to rivals by Milan last weekend, followed by a Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid. However, they were forced to fight all the way by newly-promoted Pisa. The home team created plenty of opportunities, but a clinical Inter scored the opener in the 69th minute when Argentine Martínez smacked a first-time shot into the roof of the net. The attacker then finished from close range with seven minutes remaining.
Inter’s ability to score despite pressure proved decisive in securing three points.
Additional Continental Action
Across in Spain, the Basque side mounted a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to level at home against Villarreal, only to succumb to a late strike five minutes into added time. Villarreal’s scoring came from Ayoze Pérez just after the 30-minute mark and Alberto Moleiro in the 57th minute, but Carlos Soler quickly reduced the deficit and Ander Barrenetxea equalised three minutes from time. However, Moleiro delivered the final say late in stoppage time.
In the late La Liga match, Real Madrid travel to Girona requiring a win to return to the summit ahead of Barcelona, who recorded a 3-1 triumph over Alavés on the previous day.
- Inter remain in close pursuit for the Italian crown.
- Martínez proved his value with a match-winning display.
- The battle for first goes on with several teams in the mix.
