Lautaro Martínez Brace Ensures Inter in Pursuit of Frontrunners
Inter striker Lautaro Martínez scored a second-half double to earn his side a 2-0 win at Pisa, keeping the visitors very much involved in the Serie A championship battle in spite of a less than convincing display.
League Table Update
Led by manager Cristian Chivu, Inter now sit in third position in the table with 27 points total, tied with second-placed Roma and only one point adrift of table-toppers Milan. In contrast, Pisa hold the 18th position with 10 points.
Match Recap
Inter arrived in Tuscany aiming to return to winning ways after suffering a derby defeat by Milan last weekend, which was followed by a European loss at Atlético Madrid. Nonetheless, they were forced to fight throughout by newly-promoted Pisa. The hosts generated plenty of opportunities, but a clinical Inter scored the opener in the 69th minute mark when Argentine Martínez smacked a first-time shot into the roof of the net. The attacker then tapped in from close range seven minutes from time.
The team’s capacity to score even with difficult circumstances was decisive in earning three points.
Other Continental Matches
In Spain, the Basque side mounted a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to level at home against Villarreal, only to succumb to a goal five minutes into stoppage time. Villarreal’s scoring came from Ayoze Pérez just after the half-hour mark and Alberto Moleiro in the 57th minute, but Carlos Soler soon pulled one back and Ander Barrenetxea leveled the score three minutes from time. Yet, Moleiro delivered the final say late in added time.
In the late Spanish match, Real Madrid travel to Girona requiring a victory to go back to the top ahead of Barcelona, who recorded a 3-1 win over Alavés on the previous day.
- Inter stay in close pursuit for the Italian title.
- Martínez demonstrated his value with a decisive performance.
- The battle for first goes on with several teams in the mix.
