Inter Milan go to pf Serie A as Lautaro Martinez nets hat trick

Internazionale celebrated the end of their goal drought with a hat-trick with Lautaro Martínez as bottom-up Salernitana 5–0 in Serie A and Edin Dzeko scored twice to secure victory at the San Siro on Friday .

Victory gave Simone Inzaghi's side a one-point lead over Napoli in second and third-placed derby rivals AC Milan, who meet in Naples on Sunday. Salernitana sticks to the bottom - 10 points from the safety zone.

It was a case of déj vu as Inter won by the same scoreline at Salernitana in December, the first time in 63 years a team has scored 10 times against a team in Serie A without conceding a goal.

Inter took the lead in the 22nd minute when Nicolo Barella unlocked the defense with a brilliant through-ball for Martinez, who beat the offside trap and found the bottom corner to score his first goal in 10 matches.

"I have personally experienced difficult moments because a striker lives to score. Today I was lucky to score three goals," Martinez told Sky Sport.

"I went to the pitch with a lot of desire and a lot of anger because it was an important match for us and a crucial period for Inter."

Barela was running midfield and the pair reunited before half-time when Martínez found space between the two defenders and made his shot to make room for himself before sliding the ball past a helpless Luigi Sepp in Salernitana's goal. delayed in

Martinez completed his hat-trick 11 minutes after the break when Dzeko boxed the ball for the 24-year-old Argentine striker and tossed it into the net.

When asked about his embrace with Inzagi, Martinez said it was about "trust".

"He always gives me confidence. He fights with us near the pitch," he said.

Dzeko had created several opportunities and the striker was duly rewarded when he scored twice in five minutes, first removing Denzel Dumfries' cross on a counter-attack before finishing at the near post with a cut back from Robin Gosens. Was.

Inter will now turn their attention to the second leg of the Champions League last-16, when they try to end a 2-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.