Inter Milan & Argentina Superstar Well Below Par In Serie A Showdown Vs Napoli

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez was well below part in yesterday evening’s Serie A clash with Napoli.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews. They argue that the Argentine particularly looked unable to impact the match on a physical level.

Inter captain Martinez started yesterday evening.

It was hardly a surprise to see the 27-year-old leading the line for the Nerazzurri from the first minute.

But it was always going to be a thankless task for Martinez.

The Argentine international had to come up against Napoli defensive duo Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani. They have been two of the outstanding defenders in Serie A so far this season.

Inter Captain Lautaro Martinez Well Below Par Vs Napoli

Facing defenders like Buongiorno and Rrahmani was always going to be tough.

But that is no excuse for Martinez’s performance, argues Tuttosport.

The Inter captain did put in his usual shift in terms of pressing from the front defensively. And he had a few tidy moments of linkup play where he helped orchestrate possession moves.

But the positive attacking moments from Martinez came when he dropped deeper to get a bit of time and space on the ball.

In and around the Napoli penalty area there was little of note from Inter’s captain.

Partenopei defender Buongiorno in particular decisively won his battle with Martinez.

The Italian international used not just his pace and physicality but also his anticipation to regularly beat Martinez to the ball and keep the Argentine from managing to shoot on goal.

And Martinez simply didn’t have an answer. He lacked the burst of pace to get himself free in dangerous positions.

Therefore, for all of the possession that Inter had in dangerous areas, they lacked a cutting edge to turn the chances they created into a winning goal.