Inter Milan 4-0 Fiorentina: Lautaro Martinez bags brace as Simone Inzaghi’s side stay perfect in Serie A

Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter cruised to a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening.

Inter took the lead midway through the first half with Marcus Thuram powering a header home from Federico Dimarco's cross, to score his first goal for the Nerazzuri.

The lead was doubled eight minutes into the second half when Thuram easily found Lautaro to run through on goal and slide into the net.

Lautaro saw Oliver Christensen push his effort onto the post, shortly after Denzel Dumfries had also hit the target, but a third was not long coming with the Fiorentina 'keeper bringing down Thuram allowing Hakan Calhanoglu to add a third.

The fourth and best goal came 17 minutes from time when Lautaro met substitute Juan Cuadrado's low ball to the front post with a delightful clip which beat the 'keeper and nestled in the far top corner.

Inter join their city rivals AC on top of Serie A with three wins - and have yet to concede a goal. Fiorentina sit mid-table having won, drawn and lost a game.

With veteran striker Eden Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku gone, Inter have a more dynamic counter-attacking outfit this season with Marcus Thuram as their attacking fulcrum. They will face a lot stronger opposition than Fiorentina but the signs are promising. Thuram could have scored a hat-trick at least if he had converted the glut of chances which fell his way. With a goal, an assist and being fouled for a penalty he more than played his part through - and his ability to stretch defences seems to allow their trio of midfielders room in the midfield and Lautaro Martinez. It will be interesting to see where Benjamin Pavard fits in, but Juan Cuadrado looks another shrewd acquisition, capable of deputising for Dumfries in the latter stages after typical energetic displays such as this one.

In each of his last four seasons with Inter he has ended with an impressive return, but this is the one where he could thrive even more. Five goals in his first three games tells its own tale. With a strike partner happy to run the channels and behind the defence, he has space to create and means his own runs are more difficult to pick up. His second goal perfectly illustrates the confidence he is now playing with. This could be the year he steps up and wins his first Capocannoniere.

Inter: Sommer 7; Darmian 7, De Vrij 7, Bastoni 8; Dumfries 7, Barella 7, Calhanoglu 7, Mkhitaryan 7, Dimarco 8; Lautaro Martinez 9, Thuram 7.

Subs: Frattesi 6, Cuadrado 7, Augusto 6, Arnautovic 5, Asllani 6.

Fiorentina: Christensen 6; Dodo 5, Milenkovic 5, Ranieri 5, Biraghi 6; Arthur 6, Mandragora 5; Nico Gonzalez 5, Bonaventura 6, Kouame 6; Beltran 5.

Subs: Amatucci 6, Sottil 6, Brekalo 6, Infantino 5, Nzola 5.

23' GOAL FOR INTER! Thuaram scores his first goal for his new club. He met Dimarco's fine cross with a firm header which left Christensen with no chance as it flew into the roof of the net.

31' BASTONI GETS BEHIND THE DEFENCE AND CROSSES LOW FOR THURAM! But though he gets in front of his defender at the front post he cannot steer it on target.

45' HE COULD HAVE HAD A HAT-TRICK! After a patient move, Dumfries drills in a low ball from the right flank but Thuram again makes contact with the ball but once more it balloons over the bar.

57' PENALTY FOR INTER! Christensen clumsily dives at Thuram's feet and fells the striker.

58' GOAL FOR INTER! Calhanoglu calmly sends the 'keeper the wrong way from the spot.

73' GOAL FOR INTER! Cuadrado with curled in cross to the front post and Martinez, a man in form, finished with a marvellous clip across the keeper and inside the far top corner.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media