Lautaro Martinez is gunning for the treble after scoring in Inter Milan’s 2-0 win at Atalanta which moved the Italian champions three factors clear on the prime of Serie A. Argentina striker Martinez made certain of a key win in a three-way title battle along with his 18th objective of the season in all competitions within the 87th minute in Bergamo, and he was bullish about his crew’s probabilities of repeating a feat Inter achieved underneath Jose Mourinho 15 years in the past.
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have pulled additional away from closest rivals Napoli, who may solely handle a goalless draw at lowly Venezia within the day’s early kick-off, and are nonetheless within the Champions League and Italian Cup.
Inter face Bayern Munich, who they beat within the 2010 Champions League last, subsequent month whereas two Milan derbies await within the home cup semi-finals which can even be performed in April.
“It’s virtually like we do not need to say it however sure,” mentioned Inter skipper Martinez on DAZN when requested in regards to the treble.
“It will likely be tough however we’ll go for it as a result of we need to win each match we play. It’s what we work for.”
Martinez’s assured temper got here after Inter took a giant step in the direction of retaining their league crown in a tetchy match which ended with each groups right down to 10 males and Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini despatched to the stands.
Carlos Augusto put Inter forward eight minutes after half-time, making the most of distracted Atalanta defending instantly after a five-minute pause within the match for a fan who wanted medical help.
Inter take management
The Brazilian headed dwelling Hakan Calhanoglu’s nook and the champions by no means seemed again from that time.
Inter’s trigger was helped by Ederson being booked twice inside a matter of seconds, for dissent after which sarcastically applauding referee Davide Massa, and leaving Atalanta a person down from the 81st minute.
Martinez rammed dwelling Inter’s second six minutes later and shortly after a furious Gasperini, who was nonetheless raging at Ederson’s sending-off, was dismissed by Massa.
That wasn’t the tip of the motion nevertheless as with 11 minutes of added time because of the fan beforehand needing assist in the stands, Alessandro Bastoni was punished for a sequence of fouls with the match’s third pink card.
That modified nothing for Atalanta nevertheless, whose dream of profitable their first ever Scudetto is fading as Gasperini’s aspect keep third and now path Inter by six factors with 9 matches remaining.
Atalanta have not received at dwelling in Serie A since earlier than Christmas and Gasperini was left to stew over Ederson’s dismissal which he claimed killed an excellent sport.
“That referee ruined the tip of the match since you hear quite a bit worse mentioned to referees than that sarcastic applause,” mentioned Gasperini.
“We misplaced a participant who shouldn’t have been despatched off… to destroy a match like that for that type of incident is de facto unhealthy for the followers and the 2 groups on the pitch.”
Motta secure, for now
Thiago Motta’s job at Juventus is secure for now however he stays underneath immense stress to show round outcomes after a 3-0 thumping at rivals Fiorentina.
The Turin giants barely laid a glove on eighth-placed Fiorentina who ran riot in entrance of delighted supporters — together with iconic former striker Gabriel Batistuta — on the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The nature of Sunday’s defeat, and the very fact it got here after final weekend’s four-goal dwelling hammering by Atalanta, has left Motta in a precarious place, even when Juve’s sporting director mentioned they have been focussed on a “long-term mission”.
“Right now we must be united since you get out of a disaster by sticking collectively. We’re clearly disenchanted, we put in two unhealthy performances in what has been an up and down season,” mentioned Cristiano Giuntoli to Sky.
“But we’re satisfied that we will get out of this all collectively.”
To make issues worse for Motta, his previous crew Bologna have moved one level above his present membership into fourth place after a thumping 5-0 win over sixth-placed Lazio, who’re solely a degree behind Juve.
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