Martínez Double Ensures Inter on Tail of Leaders
Inter forward Lautaro Martínez netted a second-half brace to earn his side a 2-0 win at Pisa, ensuring the away side very much involved in the Italian league title race in spite of a less than convincing performance.
Standings Update
Under Cristian Chivu, Inter currently sit in third position in the table with 27 points, level with runner-up Roma and only one point adrift of table-toppers Milan. In contrast, Pisa hold the 18th spot with 10 points.
Match Recap
Inter traveled in Tuscany aiming to get back on track after enduring a loss to rivals by Milan recently, followed by a Champions League loss at Atlético Madrid. Nonetheless, they were forced to fight all the way by promoted Pisa. The home team created numerous opportunities, but a clinical Inter scored the opener in the 69th minute mark when Argentine Martínez smacked a first-time shot into the roof of the net. The attacker then tapped in from point-blank seven minutes from time.
Inter’s capacity to score even with difficult circumstances proved decisive in securing three points.
Other Continental Action
In Spain, the Basque side mounted a dramatic fightback from 2-0 down to level at home against Villarreal, only to succumb to a late strike five minutes into added time. Villarreal’s goals came from Ayoze Pérez shortly after the 30-minute mark and Alberto Moleiro in the 57th minute, but Carlos Soler soon pulled one back and Ander Barrenetxea equalised three minutes from time. However, Moleiro delivered the final say deep into stoppage time.
In the late Spanish fixture, Real Madrid journey to Girona needing a win to return to the summit above Barcelona, who secured a 3-1 win over Alavés on Saturday.
- Inter stay in tight pursuit for the Italian crown.
- Martínez proved his worth with a match-winning performance.
- The battle for first continues with several teams in the mix.
