By Zoey
Inter Milan continued their dominant march through Italian football on Saturday as captain Lautaro Martínez delivered another standout performance in a convincing 3-0 victory over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Fresh off securing the Serie A title last weekend, Inter showed no signs of easing their intensity as they overwhelmed Lazio in a match that also served as an important preview for Wednesday’s Italian Cup final, where the two clubs will meet again at the same venue.
Martínez once again proved decisive, scoring one goal and creating another as he strengthened his grip on the Serie A golden boot race while guiding the newly crowned champions to another commanding result.
The Argentine striker now has 17 league goals this season, putting him four clear of teammate Marcus Thuram with only three rounds remaining in the campaign. Como’s Tasos Douvikas and Nico Paz trail even further behind, leaving Martínez in a strong position to finish the season as Serie A’s top scorer.
Inter entered the match with confidence soaring after clinching the Scudetto, and it took only six minutes for the champions to seize control.
A long throw-in into the Lazio penalty area caused immediate confusion in the home defense. Thuram reacted first, flicking the ball onward into the path of Martínez, who volleyed clinically from close range to hand Inter an early advantage.
The goal further highlighted the devastating partnership between Martínez and Thuram, a combination that has powered Inter throughout the season. Their movement, pressing and chemistry once again proved too much for Lazio to contain.
Inter remained in command for much of the first half, controlling possession and repeatedly threatening on the counterattack. Lazio struggled to establish rhythm against the relentless pace and organization of Simone Inzaghi’s side.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly before halftime with another flowing attacking move centered around Martínez.
The Inter captain combined neatly with Andy Diouf down the left side of the penalty area before calmly rolling the ball back toward Petar Sucic. The midfielder struck a powerful effort from outside the box that flew into the top-left corner, leaving Lazio goalkeeper helpless.
The second goal effectively silenced the home crowd and placed Inter firmly in control heading into the break.
Any realistic hopes of a Lazio comeback disappeared midway through the second half when defender Alessio Romagnoli was sent off following a reckless studs-up challenge on Ange-Yoan Bonny.
The tackle immediately sparked concern among Inter players and coaching staff, though Bonny fortunately escaped serious injury. After reviewing the incident, the referee produced a straight red card for Romagnoli, reducing Lazio to 10 men in the 59th minute.
The dismissal also carries major consequences for Lazio beyond Saturday’s defeat, as Romagnoli will now miss next weekend’s crucial derby clash against AS Roma.
Inter capitalized on their numerical advantage to add a third goal late in the match through veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who capped another polished attacking move to complete the rout.
The victory further underlined Inter’s status as the dominant force in Italian football this season. After reclaiming the Serie A crown, the club now has an opportunity to complete a domestic double when it faces Lazio again in Wednesday’s cup final.
For Martínez, Saturday represented another important milestone in a remarkable campaign. The World Cup-winning forward has consistently delivered in decisive moments, combining leadership with elite finishing as Inter returned to the summit of Italian football.
His form has also made him the overwhelming favorite to capture the Capocannoniere award as Serie A’s leading scorer. With only a handful of matches remaining, the Argentine appears firmly on course to add another individual honor to an already glittering season.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Juventus boosted its hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League with a tense 1-0 victory away to Lecce.
Dusan Vlahovic scored after just 12 seconds, recording the fastest Serie A goal for Juventus since detailed statistics began being tracked during the 2004-05 season.
The Serbian striker’s lightning-fast strike stunned Lecce and immediately shifted the momentum of the contest. Juventus later had two additional goals disallowed for offside during the second half but still secured a crucial three points.
The win lifted Juventus into third place in the standings, one point ahead of AC Milan and four above fifth-placed Roma as the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies.
Lecce, meanwhile, remained only four points above the relegation zone and could find itself under even greater pressure depending on results elsewhere.
Another match drawing significant attention Saturday was Udinese Calcio’s 2-0 victory over Cagliari Calcio, though the football itself was overshadowed by controversy following allegations of racist abuse.
Udinese forward Keinan Davis accused Cagliari defender Alberto Dossena of calling him a racist slur during the match. Dossena strongly denied the accusation, while both clubs publicly backed their respective players.
The incident has triggered renewed debate about racism in Italian football and is expected to draw further scrutiny from league authorities in the coming days.
For Inter, however, the focus remains firmly on silverware.
Saturday’s dominant display against Lazio reinforced why the Nerazzurri have been the standout side in Serie A this season, and with Martínez continuing to lead from the front, the club now heads into the Italian Cup final carrying both confidence and momentum.
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