Inter Milan secured a commanding 3-1 victory against Empoli, with Lautaro Martinez delivering a moment of pure brilliance that set the tone for the game.
The match started with tension, as both teams struggled to break through. Empoli’s goalkeeper Devis Vasquez made a spectacular one-handed save early on, denying Martinez’s acrobatic bicycle-kick. Martinez continued to threaten, clipping the upright with a half-volley and testing Vasquez’s reflexes.
The breakthrough came from Martinez himself, who unleashed a stunning long-range right-foot curler that swerved dramatically into the top corner, leaving Vasquez with little chance despite getting a fingertip to the ball.
Denzel Dumfries extended Inter’s lead with a powerful header from a corner, showcasing his recent scoring form. Empoli refused to surrender, with Inter-owned striker Sebastiano Esposito pulling one back after a skillful control and finish.
Marcus Thuram sealed the victory with a relatively straightforward finish, set up by Marko Arnautovic’s precise pass. The win provided crucial momentum for Inter in the Serie A title race, demonstrating their resilience after recent challenging matches.
Goals: Lautaro Martinez 55 (I), Dumfries 79 (I), Esposito 84 (E), Thuram 89 (I)
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard (85′ Darmian), de Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella (77′ Bastoni), Asllani, Zielinski (69′ Mkhitaryan), Dimarco; Taremi (69′ Thuram), Lautaro (77′ Arnautovic)
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; De Sciglio (66′ Goglichidze), Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi (73′ Henderson), Pezzella (83′ Sambia); Fazzini (66′ Esposito), Cacace (83′ Zurkowski); Colombo.
