Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Lautaro Martínez Sends Inter Six Points Clear With Udinese Win

Cristian Chivu managed injuries with targeted rotation before hosting Arsenal in the Champions League next.

Soccer Football - Serie A - Udinese v Inter Milan - Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy - January 17, 2026 Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez in action with Udinese's Oumar Solet and Christian Kabasele REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Juventus - Stadio Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - January 17, 2026 Cagliari's Luca Mazzitelli scores their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Juventus - Stadio Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - January 17, 2026 Cagliari players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Udinese v Inter Milan - Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy - January 17, 2026 Inter Milan and Udinese players react towards referee Marco Di Bello REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini

Overview

  • Martínez scored in the 20th minute from a Francesco Pio Esposito backheel off a Piotr Zieliński pass to secure a 1-0 victory in Udine.
  • Inter moved to 49 points and opened a six-point lead at the top, extending an unbeaten league run that includes eight wins in nine.
  • Chivu again rotated his lineup, starting Esposito alongside Martínez, as Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Denzel Dumfries remained out injured.
  • Club president Beppe Marotta praised the squad’s mentality and said Inter will be among the teams fighting to the end for the Scudetto.
  • Attention now turns to Arsenal’s visit on Tuesday in the Champions League, with Inter seeking a response after two straight defeats in Europe.