Inter Milan moved nine points clear at the Serie A summit after a dominant 5-2 victory over Roma, powered by a returning Lautaro Martinez.
MILAN: Inter Milan took a giant stride towards the Serie A title by thrashing Roma 5-2 at the San Siro. The emphatic victory ended a recent wobble and moved Simone Inzaghi’s side nine points clear at the top.
Closest challengers AC Milan face champions Napoli on Monday. Both sides are bidding to delay Inter’s charge for a 21st league crown.
The return of captain Lautaro Martinez was pivotal after nearly two months out injured. He scored twice, while Marcus Thuram netted his first club goal since early February to help end a mini-slump.
Inter had collected only eight points from their previous five league matches. “Tonight was a big match for us,” said Martinez.
“We had to come out with the right attitude and personality. I’m happy for my teammates, because it was the win we deserved.”
Hakan Calhanoglu’s swerving rocket on the stroke of half-time and a goal from Nicolo Barella secured the win. The result also dealt a blow to Roma’s Champions League hopes.
Roma sit sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Como. They are level with fifth-placed Juventus ahead of the Turin giants’ fixture with Genoa.
“It was a game of two halves,” said Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini. “Losing in Milan to this Inter team can happen, even if it shouldn’t be by such a margin.”
Martinez smashed Inter ahead from Thuram’s pass inside the opening minute. Calhanoglu’s ferocious strike from distance restored Inter’s lead just before half-time, after Gianluca Mancini’s header had briefly levelled.
Inter started the second half with similar intensity and sealed the match quickly. Martinez calmly stroked home his 16th league goal of the season in the 52nd minute.
Thuram then glanced in a perfect header from Calhanoglu’s corner moments later. Barella fired home a fifth after more sloppy Roma defending just after the hour mark.
Lorenzo Pellegrini’s smart finish for Roma in the 70th minute was a mere consolation. Elsewhere, Cremonese slipped into the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat to Bologna.
Pisa slid closer to the drop with a 1-0 home defeat against Torino.
