Inter Milan moved one point ahead of Napoli in the Serie A title race with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Genoa at San Siro on Saturday.
A late header from Lautaro Martinez secured all three points for Simone Inzaghi’s side, temporarily putting them at the top of the table.
Martinez Breaks the Deadlock as Inter Edge Past Genoa
- The first half was uneventful, with Genoa defending well and limiting Inter’s attacking threats.
- The first shot on target did not arrive until the 65th minute, when Mehdi Taremi saw his effort blocked on the line.
- Inter increased the pressure, searching for a decisive goal.
The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute:
- Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a corner into the box.
- Lautaro Martinez rose highest and headed the ball home, with his effort sneaking past Nicola Leali.
Genoa failed to mount a late response, and Inter held on for a crucial win.
League Standings Update:
- Inter move to 57 points, one point clear of Napoli, who play Como on Sunday.
- The top two will face off on March 1, in a potential title-deciding clash.
- Genoa remain 12th with 30 points.
Data Debrief: Martinez Climbs the Charts
- Lautaro Martinez scored his 10th Serie A goal this season, continuing his consistent form.
- He became the first foreign player in Inter’s history to score 10+ goals in six different Serie A seasons.
- The Argentine has now scored 113 Serie A goals, tying him with Roberto Boninsegna for sixth place in Inter’s all-time league scorers list.
- He is just three goals away from surpassing Sandro Mazzola in fifth place.
Final Thoughts
Inter did just enough to secure a vital three points, keeping the pressure on Napoli in a tight title race.
With a crucial showdown against Napoli looming on March 1, the Nerazzurri will need Martinez to continue his goalscoring form as they push for another Serie A title.
