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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Leaders Inter cruise to 4-0 win at Lecce with Martinez double

Inter restored their advantage at the top with a game in hand over second-placed Juventus, who beat Frosinone 3-2 earlier on Sunday to reach 57 points from 26 matches

Reuters Lecce (Italy) Published 27.02.24, 12:00 PM
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Inter Milan remained on course for their 20th domestic title as they stormed to a 4-0 win at Lecce in Serie A on Sunday after two goals by captain Lautaro Martinez helped them maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the table.

Inter restored their advantage at the top with a game in hand over second-placed Juventus, who beat Frosinone 3-2 earlier on Sunday to reach 57 points from 26 matches.

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Third-placed AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta after Teun Koopmeiners' penalty cancelled out Rafael Leao's superb early opener.

After edging Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, Inter began with a heavily rotated squad as midfielders Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella were missing from the starting lineup.

That, however, did not pose a problem, as Martinez put Inter ahead in the 15th minute, beating two defenders to latch onto a neat pass from Kristjan Asllani and strike low from the edge of the box for his 100th goal in Serie A.

Inter then scored three times in 13 minutes, starting with Davide Frattesi, who doubled their lead after the interval as he netted at point-blank range.

Martinez added the third two minutes later, netting from a Frattesi pass across the box which the Argentine striker sent into the bottom corner first time.

With his 22nd goal of the season, Martinez beat his personal best in the competition, which stood at 21 goals in each of the previous two Serie A campaigns.

Stefan de Vrij completed the rout with a towering header from a Dimarco corner in the 67th to leave Lecce 14th on 24 points.

Ramos' equaliser Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos came off the bench to replace Kylian Mbappe and rescued a point for the Ligue 1 leaders with a last-gasp penalty that salvaged a 1-1 draw against Stade Rennais at Parc des Princes on Sunday.

PSG, now unbeaten in their last 18 Ligue 1 matches, have 54 points from 23 games and an 11-point lead over second-placed Brest, who won 3-0 at Strasbourg on Saturday.

Mbappe, linked with a move to Real Madrid, had an uneventful night before being taken off in the 65th minute.

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