STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI (Florence): Lautaro Martinez’s hot streak continued in Serie A Matchday 11 as the in-form Inter forward netted twice to lead the Nerazzurri to a 4-3 win away at Fiorentina in front of a hostile Franchi. But that doesn’t even begin to tell the story.
“Upon reaching our shores the opponents throw their shields and swords to the ground and surrender,” read a banner laid out by Fiorentina’s home fans beneath their Curva Fiesole, but Inter did anything but lay down their weapons as Nicolo Barella poked them in front inside just 90 seconds. And after close to 100 minutes including stoppages, nobody could be accused of having surrendered on the night.
Lautaro made it two in the first half with a great goal, but Arthur Cabral and Jonathan Ikone levelled things up at 2-2. Lautaro restored Inter’s lead, Luka Jovic levelled in the 90th minute and the Franchi erupted. But then Henrikh Mkhitaryan won it in the 95th.
Twists aplenty, and a little too much drama
From 0-2 to 2-2 was quite a jump, but Inter taking a 3-2 lead looked to have killed off Fiorentina. Then, though, substitute Luka Jovic arrived and scored an overdue leveller to seal, it seemed, a point in the 90th minute.
But Inter didn’t know they were beaten and dug deep to find something of their 2020/21 selves, somehow forcing a last-gasp winner through Mkhitaryan in the 95th.
Lautaro is lethal, and right in time for the World Cup
Lautaro Martinez tends to score in bursts for Inter, but there can be little denying his talent and his eye for goal when he’s playing with confidence in attack. Inter are enjoying him at his very best at the moment.
Having been involved in goals in each of his first Serie A games of the season, Lautaro hadn’t scored a single goal since August ended before the international break at the end of September. His drought ended with a goal and assist for Argentina, and he carried that form back to Italy with him.
He scored against Salernitana, followed that up with a goal and assist away to Barcelona, and added a brace in Florence. With him playing like this, Inter fans and Argentine Serie A fans will be licking their lips with a World Cup to come in under a month.
Inzaghi has the edge over Italiano
Vincenzo Italiano just cannot get the better of Simone Inzaghi, no matter how many times he tries. The game in Matchday 11 was the fifth time that the two coaches have faced off and, although it was hard-fought by the end, marked Inzaghi’s fourth win over Italiano.
The other of those games ended in a draw and extend back to Inzaghi’s time at Lazio and Italiano’s with Spezia.
