Lautaro Martínez made a triumphant return with a brace, leading Inter Milan to a commanding 5-2 victory over Roma, and extending their lead to nine points at the top of the Serie A standings.
This season, Martínez has now scored 23 goals, with both of his efforts in the match set up by Marcus Thuram. Hakan Çalhanoglu’s long-range strike and Nicolò Barella’s goal added to the tally after Gianluca Mancini had equalized for the visitors, while Lorenzo Pellegrini scored a late consolation for Roma at San Siro.
AC Milan will face Napoli on Monday evening, knowing that a loss would all but secure the title for their rivals. Milan’s recent slump, having won only two of their last eight league games, has given hope to those chasing the title with only seven matches left in the season.
Martínez, returning from injury for the first time since February 18, wasted no time, scoring just two minutes into the match from a Thuram assist, setting a positive tone for the hosts.
Roma’s keeper, Mile Svilar, was kept busy, making saves against Çalhanoglu, Alessandro Bastoni, and Martínez, as Inter piled on the pressure. Meanwhile, Roma’s Yann Sommer denied Donyell Malen an equalizer in the 24th minute.
Piotr Zielinski came close with a curling attempt in the 33rd minute, but Roma found their footing five minutes before halftime when Matìas Soulè set up Devyne Rensch, whose cross was met by Mancini’s header to equalize.
However, Inter regained the lead just before halftime, as Çalhanoglu unleashed a stunning 35-yard shot that found the back of the net in stoppage time, sending the teams in at halftime with Inter leading 2-1.
Buoyed by their impressive finish to the first half, Inter resumed play determined to maintain momentum. They quickly extended their lead when Thuram assisted Martínez again, allowing the Argentine to score with a precise shot in the 52nd minute.
Thuram then scored the fourth goal himself just three minutes later, heading in from a corner taken by Çalhanoglu, while things worsened for Roma when Barella charged into the box and hammered home a fifth in the 63rd minute.
Pellegrini pulled one back for Roma with a left-footed effort with 20 minutes remaining, following a surge into the box by Malen. Although the visitors had a few chances to complicate matters for Inter, they were unable to convert.
With 13 minutes left, Denzel Dumfries missed a chance to extend the lead further, but it mattered little as Inter had already secured a decisive victory.