'World class' Lautaro Martinez inspiring 'scary' Inter as they live up to Serie A favourites tag - what has changed?
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Published 08/12/2023 at 13:44 GMT
It has been a wonderful start to the season for Internazionale, who are top of the Serie A table and into the last 16 of the Champions League. After struggling to live up to their favourites tag last season, Simone Inzaghi's side have flourished with the burden of being widely tipped this time around. Lautaro Martinez's superb form and a strong transfer window are among the factors to have helped.
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Inter’s trip to Naples last Sunday was billed by many as a battle between the champions and the champions-elect.
What happened over 90 minutes at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona did little to change that narrative, and even led to the Gazzetta dello Sport headline on Monday: “Inter scares everyone.”
Inter surfed over waves of pressure that came their way in the first half before scoring two exquisite goals and adding a late third for a 3-0 win that marked their biggest victory in Naples since 1977.
It wasn’t as one-sided a contest as the scoreline might suggest, with Napoli hitting the bar, forcing good saves from Yann Sommer and feeling aggrieved by some refereeing decisions, but it underlined once again the sheer quality in the Inter ranks.
That ability, not just in their starting XI but across the wider squad, was what made Simone Inzaghi’s side so many pundits’ pre-season tips for the Scudetto.
However, that was also the case last season, when the Nerazzurri finished a disappointing third with a yawning 18-point chasm separating them from Napoli.
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'That's game over' - Thuram on target as Inter grab third against Napoli
So what has changed to make the Milanese side look like the real deal this time around?
Off to a good start
The most notable difference has been Inter’s ability to get out of the blocks quickly in 2023-24.
By this stage last season, Inzaghi was coming under pressure after defeats to Lazio, AC Milan, Udinese, Roma and Juventus left Inter fourth and watching helplessly as runaway leaders Napoli left a trail of dust behind them in the distance.
This term, Inter have had one major slip-up, a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Sassuolo in September, but have otherwise only dropped points just twice, in draws with Bologna and Juventus.
Away from home they’ve been particularly impressive; their record of six wins and two goals conceded is the best in Europe’s top-five leagues.
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A string of big performances in big games has been a further sign of progress, with the Nerazzurri thrashing rivals Milan 5-1 before wins over Atalanta, Roma and now Napoli.
If Inter escape from Rome unscathed on December 17 against Inzaghi's former club and last season's runners-up Lazio, they will be unbeaten in all their biggest games by the midway stage of the campaign.
Newfound authority
Much has been made of the positive impact last season’s run to the Champions League final has had on this team and how even in defeat to Manchester City, the squad was boosted by their performance against a team widely regarded as huge favourites.
All too often, Inter’s title hopes have been let down by moments of madness, be it goalkeeper Ionut Radu’s infamous error against Bologna that ultimately cost them the 2021-22 Scudetto, or maddening losses to the likes of Spezia, Empoli, Udinese and Monza that derailed their chances last season.
The club’s ‘Pazza Inter’ (Crazy Inter) nickname hasn’t been an exaggeration, but this season they are playing with more authority and confidence after proving they can mix it with Europe’s elite.
The loss to Sassuolo and bonkers comeback in a 3-3 UEFA Champions League draw with Benfica go to show that there is still room for the odd wobble, but Inter have generally looked impressively assured.
The same goes for their charismatic coach Inzaghi. He remains a restless ball of energy on the touchline, but his father Giancarlo believes he’s changed over the last year.
“Simone has changed…he has now learned to co-exist with the pressure that comes with big teams,” Inzaghi senior told Gazzetta dello Sport. “He lives with Inter on his mind.”
Signings quickly settled
Inter, and director Beppe Marotta, have been masters at cashing in on players and finding quality replacements at low cost as they continue to operate in challenging financial circumstances.
This summer, the club lost big players who were key to recent success: Andre Onana, Milan Skriniar and Marcelo Brozovic left, while Romelu Lukaku’s loan came to an end.
But those who have replaced them, particularly goalkeeper Yann Sommer and free agent Marcus Thuram, have been remarkable early-season success stories.
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Switzerland stopper Sommer proved his worth yet again in Naples with two big saves, while Thuram bagged the third goal to continue a wonderful start that has seen him already contribute five goals and six assists, the only forward in Serie A to hit that number in both metrics.
Fellow new arrivals Davide Frattesi, Benjamin Pavard, Davy Klaasen, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Augusto and Marko Arnautovic have all contributed to a pool of talent that is far deeper than any other in Italy’s top flight.
That quality in depth has helped Inter fight on two fronts effectively, wrapping up UEFA Champions League last 16 qualification with two games to spare without missing a beat in Serie A.
Lautaro on fire
For all the benefits of a big squad, it always helps for your star man to shine. And Lautaro Martinez, who this week said he’s ready to sign a new Inter contract, is in the form of his life.
The Argentina striker has been a reliable source of goals for Inter since joining from Racing in 2018, hitting double figures in each of the last four seasons and more than 20 in the last two.
He already has 13 Serie A goals in 14 games this season, as well as two in the UEFA Champions League, and Martinez’s understanding with Thuram has quickly become telepathic, with Lautaro leading the Serie A scoring charts and Thuram on top for assists.
The Inter captain is leading by example and looks to be hitting the peak of his powers – he even scored four goals in a game against Salernitana in September from the bench.
No wonder Inter’s second-top scorer of all time, Alessandro Altobelli, is starting to get concerned about losing his place in the rankings, even with 93 goals separating them.
“I told [Martinez] ‘you’re the only one who can get past me’. And I truly hope he does,” said Altobelli.
“Inter are lucky to have a world-class player like him, who is entering the best years of his career. Now he’s pairing talent and goals with experience and knowledge. With another major trophy he could win the Ballon d’Or.”
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Coming up on TNT Sports
Inter fans will watch with interest as their major title rivals, Juventus, host Napoli in Turin on Friday night live on TNT Sports 3.
Two points separate the Nerazzurri on top from the Old Lady behind them, while AC Milan are six points off the pace in what is fast becoming a two-horse title race.
Inter host Udinese on Saturday, December 9, live on TNT Sports 3. Kick-off is at 19:45 UK time.
Inzaghi’s men are big favourites against an Udinese side who are 16th in the standings, two points above the drop zone, and winless in three games. But last season’s shock 3-1 loss in Udine will no doubt be on their minds.
The weekend provides a big opportunity for Inter to gain some ground, with six of the current top eight in Serie A playing each other as Atalanta host AC Milan and Roma welcome Fiorentina.
How to watch Serie A live on TNT Sports
Friday, December 8
- 19:45: Juventus v Napoli, TNT Sports 3
Saturday, December 9
- 17:00: Atalanta v AC Milan, TNT Sports 4
- 19:45: Inter v Udinese, TNT Sports 3
Sunday, December 10
- 11:30: Frosinone v Torino, TNT Sports 2
- 14:00: Monza v Genoa, TNT Sports 3
- 17:00: Salernitana v Bologna, TNT Sports 3
- 19:45: Roma v Fiorentina, TNT Sports 2
Monday, December 11
- 17:30: Empoli v Lecce, TNT Sports 1
- 19:45: Cagliari v Sassuolo, TNT Sports 1
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