Incredible El Toro scores four in the second half to bring Inter back to the top

Inter Milan returned to winning ways in Serie A as a Lautaro Martínez four-goal haul clinched a 4-0 victory over Salernitana at the Stadio Arechi, which was also their seventh triumph in eight league away matches.

Inter suffered their first setback of the campaign last time out as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Sassuolo, despite being ahead. Before that, though, they were imperious in the Italian top flight, winning each of their first five matches, and a win here would immediately restore confidence in their title charge. However, although the Granata came into this clash without a Serie A triumph this term, they had lost just one of their previous 10 games on home soil, and they proved a tough nut to crack for Nerazzurri in the opening period.

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The visitors started on top and went close with chances from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. Still, Guillermo Ochoa was relatively untroubled, and as the half progressed, Salernitana grew in confidence. Jovane Cabral and Grigoris Kastanos were the chief tormentors, with the latter forcing Yann Sommer to tip over the bar with a rising shot, and while they were unable to find a way past the Swiss goalkeeper before the break, their first-half display was a clear improvement on their last match - a 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Empoli.

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After the interval, both teams initially toiled. It felt as though something special would be needed to break the deadlock, and although substitute Lautaro Martínez’s delicate chip was an example of his clinical touch, the Argentinian had Thuram to thank for his goal. The France international’s cross was pinpoint, finding Martínez in the only spot where he could get to the ball. Inter had conceded just three times in their first six matches, and although Salernitana thought they had equalised shortly after, Mateusz Łęgowski was in a clear offside position before firing under Sommer.

Simone Inzaghi’s side almost extended their advantage midway through the half via Kristjan Asllani, whose curling free-kick struck the woodwork on its way behind, but Inter’s return to the Serie A summit was secure in the 77th minute when Martínez further proved his worth with a well-taken volley to put the result beyond doubt. When Thuram was brought down in the area, giving referee Rosario Abisso no choice but to point to the spot, Inter’s number 10 inevitably stepped up to bury from 12 yards.

As if that wasn’t enough, Martínez then swept home Carlos Augusto’s cutback from close range, adding a superb finishing touch to an already stunning cameo. It was a good day at the office for Inzaghi and Co., while for all their hard work, Salernitana remain in the relegation zone and could even slip down to the last place should Cagliari defeat Fiorentina on Monday.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 7

Saturday

Lecce - Napoli 0-4 (0-1)

/Ostigard 16, Osimhen 51, Gaetano 88, Politano 90+4 pen/

AC Milan - Lazio 2-0 (0-0)

/Pulisic 60, Okafor 88/

Salernitana - Inter 0-4 (0-0)

/Martinez 62, 77, 85 pen, 89/

Sunday

13:30: (1.67) Bologna (3.70) Empoli (5.50)

16:00: (2.45) Udinese (3.25) Genoa (3.25)

19:00: (2.55) Atalanta (3.45) Juventus (2.90)

21:45: (1.45) Roma (4.30) Frosinone (7.75)

Monday

19:30: (2.20) Sassuolo (3.50) Monza (3.20)

19:30: (1.90) Torino (3.40) Verona (4.30)

21:45: (1.47) Fiorentina (4.20) Cagliari (7.50)

***odds are subject to change***