Inter Milan Captain’s “Annual Goal Drought” Comes Early – Three Serie A Matches Without A Goal

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has officially seen his “annual goal drought” come early.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, following the 27-year-old’s misfiring performance against Monza yesterday.

Inter captain Martinez started yesterday’s Serie A match away to Monza yesterday.

Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi rotated his team in most areas of the pitch, with an eye to upcoming matches against Manchester City and AC Milan.

However, in attack the coach went with the usual first-choice partnership. Martinez led the line alongside Marcus Thuram.

However, neither striker were able to make the desired impact.

Martinez in particular had little impact on proceedings.

Monza defender Pablo Mari largely won his duel with the Inter captain, who did not have the physicality to get himself free of the former Arsenal and Udinese man in dangerous areas.

Martinez did have one decent headed chance from a Federico Dimarco. However, his effort was high and wide.

Inter Captain Lautaro Martinez Has “Annual Goal Drought” Early

If there is one feature that has always been a lingering doubt about Martinez at Inter, it is his worrying habit of going long periods without scoring.

There is certainly no denying that the Argentine is prolific.

Martinez has been Inter’s top scorer in each of the past three seasons. Last campaign he was the top scorer for Serie A as a whole.

This summer, Martinez was the top scorer at the Copa America, where he scored in the final for Argentina.

But the goals have always come in fits and starts for Martinez.

And then, there have been periods of several weeks where the Argentine has not been able to get himself on the scoresheet.

This time around, that period has come early.

Martinez has started in three of Inter’s four matches so far in Serie A. He was not part of the squad for a win over Lecce due to injury.

And in his three starts, Martinez has not managed to score a goal yet.

Instead, it has been Thuram who has found the back of the net four times to carry the load in attack.

There are certainly clear reasons for why Martinez has not been at his prolific best.

The Inter captain has not looked sharp on a physical level, as he has struggled for top condition after a late return to preseason training due to the Copa America.

But even over the second half of last season, Martinez’s goalscoring slowed down dramatically after a blistering start to the campaign.

The Inter captain scored just one goal – in a 5-0 win over Frosinone – after February.

The Nerazzurri will be hoping that their captain and talisman can shake this off and get on the scoresheet soon.

But if there is a positive side to this, it is that usually when Martinez’s drought finally ends, it ushers in a period of consistent goalscoring.