Lautaro Martinez ready for ‘fascinating’ Inter-Napoli Scudetto fight

epa11837435 Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between FC Inter and Empoli FC, in Milan, Italy, 19 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez is looking forward to a ‘fascinating’ Scudetto battle with Napoli and admits he let some anger out during his goal celebration against Empoli.

The Nerazzurri took a while to break down Empoli at San Siro, finally bending back the goalkeeper’s fingertips with a Lautaro Martinez curler from distance into the far top corner.

It was followed by a Denzel Dumfries header and Marcus Thuram on late Marko Arnautovic assist, despite Sebastiano Esposito getting one back for the final 3-1 result.

In his celebration, Lautaro Martinez let out a scream of pent up frustration.

“There is a little anger in me, because we were coming off a draw with Bologna that felt like two points dropped,” confessed the Argentina international to DAZN.

“It was a complicated match, Empoli clammed up well in the first half, then after the break we moved the ball faster and found a way through, with gaps between the lines. I think we deserved the victory.”

Lautaro Martinez shoulders Inter responsibility

Although he had a spell of not finding the net for two months, Lautaro Martinez now has 111 Serie A goals in his career, as many as Mauro Icardi and fewer only than legend Stefano Nyers (133) for foreign Inter scorers. Is there too much of a rush to criticise him?

“Since I started playing football, I always tried to look forward and aim to improve. It’s what I tell the younger players every time, they give their heart and soul, we must all do that on the field and in training. We need players who give everything for this shirt, then it might go well or not, but the important thing is that we give 100 per cent for Inter.

“I am proud of all my teammates, there is a long path ahead, we need to recover now and keep going.”

This result puts Inter within three points of Serie A leaders Napoli, but the reigning Champions of Italy have a game in hand.

That is the trip to Fiorentina, which was abandoned over Edoardo Bove’s medical emergency, and is expected to be rescheduled next month.

“It’s going to be fascinating. We are -3, we have a game in hand, but as always we need to focus on our own path, because Inter have to do better every single year.”

Their 2025 started with disappointment, fumbling a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana Final in Riyadh.

The captain had seemed particularly distraught after that, so has he shaken it off?

“Every player goes through difficult moments. When you play this many games, it takes it out on your body and mind.”