Inter Milan consolidated its position at the top of Serie A and Lautaro MartÃnez boosted his lead in the scoring charts as the Nerazzurri won 2-1 at Atalanta.
MartÃnez doubled Inter’s advantage in the 57th minute after Hakan Çalhanoglu’s penalty had given the visitors the lead on a rainy evening in Bergamo. They were the first goals Atalanta had conceded at home this season.
Gianluca Scamacca reduced the deficit for Atalanta shortly after MartÃnez’s stunning strike.
It was MartÃnez’s 12th league goal this season, double that of his nearest challengers - AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. It was also the 33rd goal of the calendar year for MartÃnez, who has been in lethal form since winning the World Cup with Argentina in December.
Inter moved five points clear of second-place Juventus, which visits Fiorentina on Sunday, and six above Milan after the Rossoneri’s problems increased with a humiliating 1-0 loss at home to lowly Udinese.
Napoli remained seven points below Inter but moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win at bottom club Salernitana. The defending champion moved two points above Atalanta.
Things didn’t start so well for Inter as Benjamin Pavard had to be replaced by Matteo Darmian in the 33rd minute after his left knee buckled under him. A stretcher was brought on and there were fears of a serious injury but Pavard insisted on getting off the stretcher and hobbling off the field.